Childrens Picture Book – Ages 5-8

Illustrated by: Luz Batista

Translated by: Kianny N. Antigua

Published: 7/30/2024

Una nia aprovecha el poder de la msica para acortar la distancia entre la Repblica Dominicana y Washington Heights. Este es un debut inolvidable en el gnero infantil de Angie Cruz, ganadora de mltiples premios y autora de la exitosa novela Dominicana.

Anglica ha pasadotodo el verano enla Repblica Dominicana con sus tas y primas, sus abuelos y con la cotorra de al lado. Pronto, tendr que despedirse. El final del verano significa regresar a casa para volver a la escuela en la otra orilla. Antes de irse, su abuelo le da el regalo perfecto, algo con el poder de atraer multitudes y mover a la gente tan rpido como las alas de un picaflor: una gira. Anglica se enamora de esta lata sin fondo y peine de hojalata que mantiene el ritmo, aunque al principio nadie parece compartir su entusiasmo. Qu es ese sonido? dicen. Centavos dentro de una lata?. Pero un da soleado y caluroso en la tierra de Washington Heights, donde la mujer del fro-fro raspa hielo para una larga fila de clientes y los hombres de la esquina estrellan fichas de domin en una improvisada mesa de cartn, Anglica les muestra a sus vecinos el poder de la gira.

Anglica y la gira explora con cario y ternura la msica y la comunidad, as como la sabidura y gua de nuestros mayores y la alegra y libertad de bailar en la calle! Este libro tambin disponible en ingls bajo el ttulo Anglica and la Gira.

A young girl harnesses the power of music to bridge the distance between the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights in this jubilant picture book debut by Angie Cruz, bestselling and award-winning author of Dominicana.

Anglica has spent the summer in the Dominican Republic with her tas and primas, her grandparents, and their parrot, but soon shell have to say goodbye. The end of summer means returning home to start school on another shore. Before she leaves, her grandfather gives her the perfect gift. It’s something with the power to make people dance as fast as the wings of a hummingbird: a gira. Anglica falls in love with this musical instrument, though nobody shares her enthusiasm at first. What is that sound, they say, pennies inside a tin cup? But on a hot, sunny day, in the land of Washington Heights, where the fro fro woman scrapes ice for a long line of customers and the men on the corner plunk dominoes on a makeshift carboard table, Anglica shows her neighbors the power of la gira.

Anglica and la Gira lovingly explores music and community, the wisdom and guidance of our elders, and the joy and freedom of dancing in the street. No matter where we are, music brings us closer to home. Don’t miss the English-language edition of this book, Anglica and la Gira.

AUTHOR BIO:

Angie Cruz is a novelist and editor. She is the author ofHow Not To Drown in A Glass of WaterandDominicana, which was the inaugural GMA Book Club Pick and the 2019-20 Wordup Uptown Reads selection. It was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize, longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the Aspen Words Literary Prize, it was a RUSA Notable Book, and winner of the ALA/YALSA Alex Award. Cruz divides her time between Pittsburgh, New York, and Turin.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO:

Luz Batista is a story artist and illustrator who grew up in New York City, New Jersey, and Atlanta and spent many summers longing for a visit to the Dominican Republic. Luz graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in animation, and she’s currently a story artist and creative consultant at Disney TVA.Anglica and la Girais her first picture book. Learn more about Luz at luzbatista.com and follow her @johnnyoctopus on Instagram.

Praise forAnglica y la giraBy Angie Cruz; Illustrated by Luz Batista; Translated by Kianny N. Antigua:

“A festive tribute to music and home that will strike a chord with all readers, especially those who see their cultures represented in these pages. Purchase for all picture book shelves.”–School Library Journal, starred review