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Otheguy, Emma

A Sled for Gabo

40 pp. | Atheneum | January, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-5344-4534-5 $17.99 | Spanish ISBN 978-1-5344-4583-3 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-5344-4535-2 $10.99
(2) PS Illustrated by Ana Ramírez González. On a snowy day, shy, tentative Gabo breathes a small peephole onto the frosted kitchen window to see kids sledding down the neighborhood hill, in a joyful, noisy tangle. Eager to join, but reluctant to leave the safety zone of his cozy home, Gabo notes his lack of sled, wool socks, and snow boots, all of which would be needed for venturing outside. "Vamos a resolver," Mami responds, assembling layered socks, plastic bags, and Papi's knitted cap, countering with abundance and improvisation any perception of lack. With Mami's encouragement, and with the dazzle of colors and life contrasting against the bright, fresh snow, Gabo sets out to find a sled, meeting along the way friendly neighbors--including Misifú, a spirited cat, and Sancho, a ­rambunctious dog--who, like Mami, model ways to make new friends. González’s digital illustrations, watercolor-esque in their light-filled, saturated mix of pastel and neon hues, illuminate Otheguy's richly descriptive narrative, amplifying the sensory experiences throughout Gabo's day--the sticky delight of warm dulce de leche eaten straight from the can in spoonfuls, the glow-y happiness of sharing Christmas turrón with a new friend, the speedy thrill of sledding downhill. Skillfully avoiding didacticism, the book speaks to the desire to belong, the complex fears that inhibit participation, and what generous love and taking risks with confidence might offer. Concurrently published in Spanish as Un trineo para Gabo.
Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

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