(2) 4-6 This welcome historical novel traces a Sephardic Jewish family whose members travel from one country to another with first-person narrators from four generations and spanning centuries. In 1492, Benvenida and her family leave Toledo, Spain, for what is then Constantinople to escape the Spanish Inquisition. In 1923, Reina sneaks out at night and sings for a group of boys against her father's wishes and is sent from Turkey to Cuba for an arranged marriage. In 1961, Alegra teaches literacy as a brigadista but then flees Cuba for Miami with Operation Pedro Pan. And in 2003, Paloma and her family travel back to Toledo and learn what they can about their long-ago family history. The family saga provides glimpses of several moments in world history and gives readers opportunities to spot connections among the generations, sometimes knowing details about the past that the characters can only guess at. (An overly earnest tone in narration and dialogue sometimes detracts from the characters' believability.) A Ladino song and the oud that it is played on add echoes from one section to another. The author's note provides context and personal connections; back matter also includes source notes with accessible explanations.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Smart. This book opens at a suspenseful point in its subject's story: "Even with war raging around them [in 1995], the people of Sarajevo were worrying about a book." The text then flashes back and gives the history of a hand-painted, hand-lettered Haggadah (guide for the Passover seder) given as a wedding gift in Spain around 1350 and passed from generation to generation and place to place. It survived the Spanish Inquisition...and scribbles and wine spills...before being sold to the National Museum in Sarajevo in 1894. Strauss spotlights the ways the rare Haggadah became "everybody's treasure"; e.g., a Muslim curator and a Catholic museum director each had a hand in protecting it from the Nazis. Her accessible text clearly explains key moments in the book's sweeping history. Smart's illustrations portray these moments with varied compositions and perspectives, keeping pages turning. In addition to depictions of the Haggadah itself, occasional borders nod at its intricate design. Source notes or other more extensive back matter (beyond the brief author's note) would have enhanced this title, but it serves as an engaging introduction to a volume with a remarkable history.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) K-3 Translated by Emilie Robert Wong. Illustrated by Violeta Lopíz. Fontenaille and Lópiz bring readers a deeply affectionate intergenerational story of a six-year-old child and Grandpa Luis. The child admires Luis, a talented gardener who fled war in Spain as a youth and never attended school or learned to read or write. "Dad told me Luis didn't have a chance to be a kid." The grandchild's first-person narration lovingly describes Luis's tattoo-covered arms, his artwork that covers the walls ("Dad says Luis is as good as Henri Rousseau"), his cooking, his guitar-playing, and the idiosyncratic way he speaks: "He says I am 'the apple of his pie,' which means he really likes me." Lópiz's beautifully composed, exquisitely controlled illustrations burst with color, capturing impressions and moments with graceful lines and evocative, layered patterns and textures. There is a particularity to the story and characters that makes this book most memorable and spellbinding.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Luciano Lozano. This picture-book biography of Spain’s first scientific Nobel Prize winner, Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934), moves from his imagination-filled childhood in the mountain village of Petilla to his groundbreaking discovery of the structure of the nervous system at the age of thirty-six. Readers will be delighted by the snapshots of a self-willed, precocious, inventive young boy who bucked his teachers’ attempts to clip his artist’s wings, and initially resisted following in his doctor-father’s footsteps, only to fall in love with the field of neuroanatomy on his own terms. Lozano’s stylized digital illustrations are interspersed with fascinating facsimiles of Ramón y Cajal’s photography, paintings, and medical drawings. Back matter delves into the anatomy of a neuron and expounds on Ramón y Cajal’s life and works. A compelling testament to the value of unconventional thinking.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) YA Wilson (White Rose, rev. 7/19) again traces a real-life young woman's activism in a novel in verse. Gerda Pohorylle, the daughter of Polish immigrants living in Germany, is taught to be true to her Jewish self "behind closed doors / and / assimilate in German spaces / outside the home." As the Nazis gradually seize power, Gerda replaces her assimilation with political protest; after an arrest, she immigrates to Paris. There, several mentors--including Andre Friedmann, who becomes her professional and romantic partner--help her pursue her passion, photography. In order to command higher commissions, Gerda publicly reinvents the two of them as the ­glamorous Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. When the Spanish Civil War breaks out, Capa and Taro, sympathizing with republican resistance to Franco's fascist uprising, journey to Spain to chronicle the conflict. Wilson adroitly lays the foundation for Gerda's early Anderssein, or "otherness"; her physical isolation from her family while in Paris; and the awakening of her life's purpose. Appended author's notes separate fact from fiction and give more information about historical figures mentioned, the Spanish Civil War, and Taro's legacy. A bibliography and glossaries for German, French, and Spanish words complete the book. Pair with Aronson and Budhos's biography Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism (rev. 5/17).

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(1) K-3 Translated by Lawrence Schimel. Illustrated by Raquel Catalina. On a playing field in a city neighborhood's central square, young Madani, a recent arrival, is the best player on his soccer team. He plays barefoot, and his teammates speculate how much better, even, he would play if he had proper cleats. They know Madani is saving up little by little (skipping afternoon snacks, walking instead of taking the bus) and await the day he can afford to buy cleats--hopefully before the upcoming match with their longtime rivals. Meanwhile, his mother sews all day in their apartment, listening to the faint cheers for Madani that waft through her window. The story is narrated by one of Madani's teammates and reflects childlike concerns and perspectives. So the focus stays on the wonder of Madani's skills rather than where he came from; and also, crucially, on the anticipated new cleats rather than what Madani is actually saving up for, which will likely come as a surprise to young readers. The illustrations in this Spanish import, in pencil, gouache, and colored pencil, capture a bustling neighborhood of sidewalk cafes, newsstands, fountains, passersby, traffic, and pigeons. The spreads showing soccer action are full of movement and energy as Madani juggles the ball, dodges opponents, shoots, and scores. A beautiful book centering on the beautiful game, but about so much more: immigrant life, family, friendship, love.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) 4-6 The incoming eighth-grade Spanish students from Ellen Katz's Georgia prep school take a summer field trip to Barcelona. Ellen, who is autistic, is sometimes overwhelmed by the surprises the trip presents, starting with an unexpected team scavenger hunt. Several parts of the experience lead Ellen to realize that identity isn't always clear-cut, from her father's choice to eat non-kosher food while he's chaperoning to a teammate's use of they/them pronouns. Ellen is a satisfyingly well-rounded character with complex relationships who makes mistakes and learns from them. She figures things out about herself, including trying out an adjustment to her--or maybe sometimes their--own pronouns. The presence of multiple queer characters allows for a variety of feelings toward what to share and how big a deal being queer is or isn't. The amazing-to-imagine (if unlikely for most readers) school trip provides an appealing backdrop, but it is the story's interpersonal aspects that are especially welcome.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brett Helquist. This picture-book biography paints the Spanish surrealist artist as an imaginative, quirky person right from the start. As a child, he dreams of being a king and wears his king costume to school, puzzling others, but "Salvador was just being himself." This refrain repeats throughout the book with slight variations, each time with the words displayed on an appropriately flamboyant banner. His complicated personality and role in the adult art world are challenging to convey to children, but Guglielmo makes a good attempt at highlighting some of Dalí's odder moments ("He gave a speech inside a deep-sea diving suit") in an objective way. Helquist's oil paintings incorporate reproductions of famous pieces of art, which are all named at the back, and he includes a variety of skin tones in the other adults depicted (usually with disapproving expressions on their faces). He also shows many of Dalí's more amusing-to-children inventions, such as a lobster phone or a hat in the shape of a shoe. An author's note gives more information on Dalí's life, and the selected bibliography includes other children's books about the artist for readers whose interest has been piqued.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) K-3 Translated by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Ana Penyas. In the spring of 1937, the ship Mexique sailed from France to Mexico with 456 Spanish refugees, all children whose parents were fighting on the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War. The expected three-to-four months away became years and, for some, a lifetime, as Franco's retribution against former Republicans and then the onset of World War II made it impossible for the children to return home. Ferrada focuses on the journey itself, told from the limited perspective of one (likely fictional) young child. "I can't really remember where we are going, but it is far." The narrator clings to the older children--"Clara, Sonia, Eulalia, Maria, our sisters, collect our tears in their handkerchiefs"--finding strength from companionship through a difficult transition from the familiar but terrifying wartime Spain to the unknown but welcoming Morelia, Mexico. "We play at imagining where we are going. Morelia is a color...Morelia is a fruit." Penyas's illustrations are primarily black and white, with accents of red. The palette effectively establishes setting and grabs readers' attention. Per an appended note: "The images in this book are based on photographs of the 'Children of Morelia' and the ship that brought them to Mexico," adding a further layer of realism and poignancy. In one spread, small panes each show a different view of the open ocean, fragments of the narrator's interminable journey. Although the specifics of the story are clearly historical, there is a universality to them that connects these pages to the tale of every child sent away from home for safety during times of war.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) YA This historical novel follows Paloma, a Jewish girl living in fifteenth-century Spain, from age seven--when Jews are blamed for a plague despite being struck by it themselves--to sixteen, when her family is exiled by the Inquisition. In between those years Paloma, a particular favorite of her grandfather Belo, finds herself caught up in the uneasy, transactional relationship between her wealthy family and the powerful non-Jews surrounding them. Belo's possessiveness also stands in the way of Paloma's ability to pursue marriage, though she is eager to, and early adolescent marriage is the norm in her culture. Rich descriptions in Paloma's first-person narration make for an immersive experience of her palpably precarious situation, fraught with constant pressure to convert to Christianity (the title refers to the fragility of the Jews' position in Spain). The pacing is episodic, with instances of danger--a kidnapping, attempted forced conversion--often resolved with the help of Paloma's influential family. Back matter includes an author's note with some historical background and an explanation that Paloma is an imagined ancestor of Levine's Sephardic Jewish family.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(1) YA High school senior Emoni Santiago (an aspiring chef) and her two-year-old daughter live with Emoni's abuela. Emoni signs up for a culinary arts class that culminates in a trip to Spain--and she begins to see a path forward, if only she dares follow it. Acevedo creates beautifully realized characters with complex lives. A few recipes (such as "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Verbena Tembleque") are interspersed.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(1) YA Sepetys's riveting and exemplary historical epic examines the enduring effects of the Spanish Civil War through the perspectives of four young people living under the shadow of Franco's fascist dictatorship in 1957 Madrid. Via lively characters and short, swiftly paced chapters, Sepetys thoroughly and sensitively explores the social, economic, and political issues that plagued postwar Spain, including the selling of stolen infants. An author's note and photo gallery are appended. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Jennifer Hubert Swan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) YA Perfect rich-girl Avery and shy loner Kayla haven't been friends since childhood. But when Avery's dad arranges for Kayla to accompany the family on a summer trip to Spain, the two girls discover they have a surprising--and initially unwelcome--connection. Told in short chapters alternating between Avery's and Kayla's perspectives, Haddix's narrative effectively builds sympathy for both girls.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Europe's Best Soccer Clubs series. These straightforward if cursory introductions to major European soccer clubs highlight the history and development of each team. The last two chapters of every title profile past and present stars and their contributions to that team's success. The well-designed layouts feature "Fast Fact" sidebars, sharp color and archival photographs depicting soccer game action and players, and a statistics page. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Europe's Best Soccer Clubs titles: FC Barcelona, Juventus FC, FC Bayern Munich, and Chelsea FC.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA This adaptation of the author's adult book chronicles Ferdinand Magellan's historic, globe-circumnavigating search for the Spice Islands. The conflict between Portugal and Spain and suspicion of Magellan's loyalty to the Spanish crown are skillfully related, as are accounts of storms, mutinies, deprivation, illness, Native hostilities, and Magellan's murder. Readers will be intrigued and informed by this meticulously researched, spellbinding adventure. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Raúl Colón. A fictionalized portrait of Miguel de Cervantes in fifteen poems highlights the hardships of his childhood and his persistent optimism to suggest echoes of his most famous character, Don Quixote. Colón's pen-and-ink and watercolor images' muted palette reinforces the grim realities of sixteenth-century Spain. Yet, the book's subdued overall style feels at odds with this writer's witty energy. Contextual notes appended. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Fact Finders: World Explorers series. These broad introductions to early European exploration of North America simply if blandly recount Coronado's fruitless search for wealth and the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola and La Salle's journey from the St. Lawrence River to the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico. Maps, illustrations, and sidebars accompany the third- and fourth-grade-level texts. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: World Explorers titles: Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and Sieur de La Salle.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Primary Source Explorers series. These introductory texts emphasize primary sources in the telling of history. Photographs of the modern-day locations, historical documents, maps, and paintings enhance the texts, which detail each individual's voyages, his place in the age of exploration, and broader historical context. Frequent questions encourage readers to make modern connections and question the morality of the explorer's choices. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Primary Source Explorers titles: A Journey with Christopher Columbus, A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, A Journey with Hernán Cortés, A Journey with Sieur de La Salle, A Journey with Henry Hudson, and A Journey with Juan Ponce de León.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Primary Source Explorers series. These introductory texts emphasize primary sources in the telling of history. Photographs of the modern-day locations, historical documents, maps, and paintings enhance the texts, which detail each individual's voyages, his place in the age of exploration, and broader historical context. Frequent questions encourage readers to make modern connections and question the morality of the explorer's choices. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Primary Source Explorers titles: A Journey with Christopher Columbus, A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, A Journey with Hernán Cortés, A Journey with Sieur de La Salle, A Journey with Henry Hudson, and A Journey with Juan Ponce de León.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello