Welcome to Litsy!

Xelena Gonzales draws on a lot of autobiographical recollections to tell this fictional story of a grandfather teaching a young girl some of their mestizos customs and beliefs. It is easily one of the best illustrated picture books I‘ve ever read. Circles are a main theme of the story, and on a number of the pages the words arc through the pictures integrating the two much in the way graphic novels occasionally manage. #BBRCPictureBookLetterA

Pura Belpre Honor winner All Around Us is just as beautiful as it sounds. Written by Xelena Gonzalez, this RF story is an imaginative story that inspires you to look a bit more closely at the world around you! This book would be a wonderful RA to young students, and be sure that they have a great view of the pictures! Xelena Gonzalez is just as beautiful as her story, and would be a great inspiration for an AS for your students! #LAE3414sp19

I have ready many books about different cultures but this book stuck with me. I greatly enjoyed this picture book. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story of life that is told is one that everyone should read no matter your age. This RF Pura Belpré honor book would do amazing as an IR in your classroom. Your students will love the message that is being told. #lae3414sp19

Another beautiful book 😍😍😍

The cover of this one caught my eye so I glanced through it and not only is the cover beautiful but the art throughout is amazing. #coverappreciation #illustrations

Ummmmm... the accompanying photo for this amazing children‘s picture book is REALLY, REALLY inaccurate. I sent a report in to Litsy to get it changed, but I am flabbergasted and confused that the photo is of The Right Way to Be Crippled and Naked. 😳😂

I am always happy to find a picture book that is utterly original and worthwhile. In simple, age-appropriate language, it explores concepts of birth & death & taking from the earth & returning to the earth & the circular nature of life. It challenges the linear view present in so many children‘s books with timelines. Bonus points from my birth-loving self for the mention of burying the placenta after a baby is born. Just beautiful.

All around us by Xelena Gonzalez is a realistic fiction (F) picture book that has won a Pura Belpre Honor book award. This book is about a little girl and her grandfather who is pointing out all the circles in their environment. Her grandfather also points out the cycle of life, when discussing their ancestors ashes buried in their backyard. TA strategies RA, IR, and SR. The website I found is about the author and book https://allaroundus.info

This beautiful book won a Pura Belpré honor award today for its illustrations. This intergenerational story of a girl and her grandfather finds circles in nature and life.

I loved the juxtapositions between young and old, and how traditions of Native American and Spanish ancestry were woven into the story.

#crossculturalstories 26 out of 100 books read

The illustrations merited more than one post. I think this was my favorite page. You could stare at this for an hour and see different things. Stunning!

Gorgeously illustrated picture book! A grandfather is telling is granddaughter about the circles all around us. A rainbow is only half the circle and the rest is underground. The food harvested from the garden is part of the circle when the seeds are replanted. And she is part of the circle, her ancestors now in the ground as she is above. It reminded me of the themes in the movie Coco.

Went to post a review of this book and noticed something not quite right. It is a picture book called “All Around Us” but the cover shown is for a book called “The Right Way to be Crippled & Naked.” 🤔