Synopses & Reviews
"This charming little book will introduce young readers to safe and effective natural remedies from the native traditions of the American Southwest. A good way to learn about the healing power of plants."and#8212;Andrew Weil, MD
Aaron has asked his grandfather Tata to teach him about the healing remedies he uses. Tata is a neighbor and family elder. People come to him all the time for his soothing solutions and for his compassionate touch and gentle wisdom. Tata knows how to use herbs, teas, and plants to help each one. His wife, Grandmother Nana, is there too, bringing delicious food and humor to help Tata's patients heal. An herbal remedies glossary at the end of the book includes useful information about each plant, plus botanically correct drawings.
Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford grew up in Nogales on the Arizona-Mexico border. Born into a pioneering Jewish family with roots in Eastern Europe, Roni embraced the languages, cultures, and people on both sides of the border. Now a retired bilingual educator, her first book, My Nana's Remedies / Los Remedios de mi Nana, is a classic, a parent's and teacher's friend for teaching children traditional values.
Antonio Castro L. is nationally recognized for his illustrations of books by Joe Hayes. Teaming up with his son, book designer Antonio Castro H., he uses his exacting illustrative skills to bring to life this story of family and plants. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, Antonio has lived in the Juarezand#8211;El Paso area for most of his life.
Review
"In our overprescribed, overstimulated, overscheduled lives, author Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford reminds us about family traditions, cross-cultural and inter-generational support, building community, and taking the time to share, listen, and heal one another. and#133; Illustrator Antonio Castro L.and#8217;s signature style and#150; minutely detailed, meticulously thorough, richly colored and#150; enhances the realism of Rivera-Ashfordand#8217;s story.
Aaron could be part of your family, or your nearby neighbor; Tata could be your grandfather (if you were so lucky), or he could be a valued part of your wider community. Together, writer and artist capture the every day and#133; and celebrate the Santo remedios and#150; magical cures and#150; whether medicinal, cultural, emotional, and otherwise, that we can all share with one another." and#151;Terry Hong, Smithsonian Book Dragon Blog
and#147;Remarkable, realistic watercolor illustrations reveal the emotions felt by the sufferers, while the bilingual text conveys Tataand#8217;s expertise in alleviating their discomfort and in teaching his grandson about natural remedies. and#133; An illuminating glimpse into a tradition not often addressed in childrenand#8217;s literature.and#8221; and#151;Maryann Owen, Booklist
and#147;My Tataand#8217;s Remediesand#8221; is a beautiful bicultural book presenting healing herb lore laced with love in an Hispanic tradition, with roots in the American Southwest. and#151;Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
A bilingual story of family and traditional wisdom: Tata teaches grandson Aaron natural remedies through healing neighbors and family.
About the Author
Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford grew up in the Sonoran desert on the Arizona side of the U.S.-Mexico border. She was a bilingual preschool and elementary school teacher for over thirty years. Now retired, she works as an author, editor, and translator.