My Papi’s Hands

A builder father’s hands—“darker, poderosas, calloused”—anchor this gratitude-filled tribute to a papi actively working to support his community and family. In English and Spanish, Seron Richardson’s crisp narration expresses admiration for the way “my papi’s hands/ build cities” and “turn mesas into mansions/ and songs/ into sonrisas.” Voicing a variation on a refrain, the speaker astutely observes, “My world would look so different without my papi’s hands.” Tropical coloring gives Rodriguez’s stark, contemporary-feeling artwork—created with oil-based woodblock ink on paper—a warming brightness. Empathy infuses moments of notable contemporary relevance, as when Papi, head in hands, “tired—... from hate,” appears amid signs declaring “Migrants out!” and “Go back!” As the pair work to build a garden, signage that reads “Bienvenidos” drives home a profound message: “Because of Papi’s hands, I know what my hands can do. And together we will build a future.” Characters read as Latinx. Ages 6–8. (May)