Veo, Veo, I See You

“Can you spot the essential workers and their workplaces?” Reflecting on the early days of Covid-19, this interactive picture book from Delacre (Turning Pages) considers the concept of essential workers via a neighborhood game of “Veo, Veo”—“I Spy.” When “a bad virus—/ too easy to catch/ in small, crowded places” closes Rosita’s Café, Marisol’s Mami, a cook there, spends more time at home. Curious about who continues to work, Marisol determines “just the game for Pepito, Mami, and me” to play: spotting “los muy necesarios” around town. As the masked-up family chats in English and Spanish, they spot a trash collector, a nurse, chicken-plant employees, a bus driver, firefighters, a pharmacist, and more, all in the midst of keeping things running. Collage-style art adds depth and texture to vibrant pages that portray a busy, largely brown-skinned community, offering readers much to find throughout. Alongside the gamified plot, the family’s own errands—taking food and medicine to loved ones, queuing at a food pantry for themselves and for others—underline themes of essential community care. Includes a seek-and-find map and author’s note. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)