In Carmela Full of Wishes (Putnam, Oct.), their first collaboration since winning both the Newbery Award and Caldecott Honors in 2016 for Last Stop on Market Street, Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson relate the story of a girl from a Mexican-American migrant community who spots a lone dandelion sprouting from the sidewalk—an invitation to make a wish.
What inspired the story line of Carmela Full of Wishes—and its graphic interpretation?
MdlP: I was visiting a California school, and a Mexican boy pointed toward the sky, where the wind was carrying hundreds of dandelion spores, and said to his teacher, “Look, Miss! The sky is full of wishes!” I’ve always loved when young people stumble into poetry, but this one was special—because the speaker was a Dreamer. I started to sketch out a story around that dandelion line, but I couldn’t get any traction until I started to see the story through the eyes of a little girl named Carmela. She made it all real for me.
CR: I wanted to visually tell a story that reflected the everyday beauty of everyday people. It was important for me to tell Carmela’s story in a way that celebrated her Mexican culture and paid homage to the vitality of migrant communities. While illustrating the book, I was moving from San Francisco to Sacramento. In the process of driving back and forth and exploring the Central Valley, the farming communities in the area became a major source of inspiration.
In what way is the story’s message important to you personally—and to young readers today?
MdlP: I grew up in a border town in California, in a neighborhood that was predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American, and though there was a lot of poverty, there was even more beauty and color and love.
nIn a time when our leaders speak about building walls, and so many mixed-status families are living in limbo, there’s no story I’d rather put into the world. For one thing, I believe representation is a game changer. But I also hope this book finds its way into white suburban households. Diverse literature for the very young is a vital part of creating a more empathetic and tolerant future.
CR: I think the most impactful message this story has to offer is for children who might not get to see themselves or their experiences reflected in books. The message is that their story matters and so do they. Carmela’s story is also a reminder that there are more things that connect us than divide us.
Was it gratifying to collaborate on a second picture book?
CR: Absolutely! Every book I have the opportunity to illustrate feels like a gift. Last Stop on Market Street was a book that reflected elements of my own childhood. In some ways, Carmela highlights Matt’s own background.
MdlP: Christian is one of my favorite illustrators working today. He always does his research and comes at a project through some kind of personal connection. But he also has this brilliant way of undercutting my more serious tendencies. His art, while just as thoughtful, always adds a bit of whimsy that makes the book more accessible.
When I first saw the art for Carmela, I was almost moved to tears. He just got it. The spreads where he used the traditional Mexican folk art style of papel picado were especially moving. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be working with Christian again.
