Title: Only a Trenza Away: A Tale of Trust and Strength
Author: Nadine Fonseca, Camila Carrossine
Genre: Picture Book, Children’s
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A little girl feels her father’s love as he takes time to braid her hair each night and share imaginative bedtime stories.
Every night, Xiomara’s (zee-oh-MA-da) papa delicately braids her hair before bed. As he gently tugs and twists and tightens her hair, father and daughter embark on imaginative and fun adventures as he makes up stories about Xia and her trenzas, or “braids” in Spanish.
In one story, her trenza becomes a sturdy twisted vine that she uses to bravely swing through the jungle. In another, her trenzas are jump ropes as she catches the beat to play double Dutch with the best players in the neighborhood.
But Xia worries what she would do if Papa was not there to help her in a real adventure—like starting a new school. Could the strength Xia needs already be woven into her braids?
Review:
Every night before bedtime, Xiomara’s father braids her hair and they go on imaginative adventures together. He makes up stories about Xiomara and her braids (or trenzas). One night, her father wasn’t there to braid her hair and she felt lost without having her trenzas in her hair. Xia must learn that the strength from her trenzas is already within herself.
This is a beautiful picture book. I loved the ritual that Xiomara had with her father braiding her hair every night. It reminded me of when I was a child and my dad would read me bedtime stories. I also liked that it was her father that braided her hair, which would stereotypically be considered a “female job” to braid her daughter’s hair. The time her father spent braiding her hair was nice bonding time for Xia and her father.
Only a Trenza Away is a beautiful story!
Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a copy!
Have you read Only a Trenza Away? What did you think of it?
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