Antonio's Card / La Tarjeta de Antonio - Paperback

by Rigoberto González (Author), Cecilia Álvarez (Illustrator)

Bilingual English/Spanish. A tender story about a boy struggling to express his love for his mother and her partner in a nontraditional family.

Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether - or how - to express his connection to both of the special women in his life.

Rigoberto González's bilingual story about a nontraditional family resonates with all children who have been faced with speaking up for themselves or for the people they love. Cecilia Concepción Álvarez's paintings bring the tale to life in tender, richly hued detail.

Author Biography

Rigoberto González was born in Bakersfield, California, and raised in Michoacán, Mexico. The son and grandson of migrant farmworkers, he is an award-winning poet and writer. Since completing his third university degree, he has worked mostly in New York and primarily with children and young adults as a dance instructor, daycare provider, literacy specialist, and creative writing teacher.

Cecilia Álvarez is a gifted fine artist. The daughter of a Mexican mother and a Cuban father, her artwork has been exhibited internationally and featured in a range of publications. Over the past decade, she has focused her creative energies on works of public art. Cecilia has two children and lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband.