Yenebi's Drive to School

Dreamers meets School's First Day of School in this vibrant story that puts a whole new spin on one loving family's morning drive to school. “Not all school drop-offs are a short bus ride away! In this wonderful book by muralist Sendy Santamaria, the sights and sounds of a frontera town occupy our imaginations as a family goes through their morning commute on the way to school from Mexico to the U.S.A.” –Raúl the Third, Pura Belpré Award–winning illustrator of the World of ¡Vamos! and Lowriders series Every morning, I'm up at four o'clock. I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister Melanie to the car where Mami's waiting for us. ¡Se nos va hacer tarde! ¡Apurarse! For the next two hours, we'll be in the car driving—past tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That's how we get to school every day. This is our normal. ¡Vamos! In a winning voice and a bright palette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl's commute—a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi's Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own. INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY: By celebrating the daily details of a child's commute to school that reflects the author's experience, this universal and inviting picture book is truly a mirror, a window, and a door. TIMELY TOPIC: An accessible approach to a serious (and seriously underdocumented) part of American life for many young readers. Teachers, librarians, and parents will appreciate the way this book blends the importance of current events in an easily understandable narrative that kids will enjoy following along with. FAMILY-CENTRIC: The journey described in this story—a loving family's daily trip to school—is timeless and relatable, yet wonderfully specific. UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: Like Last Stop on Market Street, this book leans into the narrator (and creator)'s very particular experience and yet makes the individuality of such an experience highly relatable, communicating to readers that even their most personal routines are part of what connects them with all humans. Young readers who take the bus to school or get driven a few blocks by their parents will see what makes them similar to kids like the author, even if the shape of their routines are different. FRESH APPROACH TO A CLASSIC TOPIC: The author turns the "back to school" trope on its head by making the book all about the trip, rather than focusing on apprehension or excitement about school itself. Perfect for:- Teachers and librarians looking for picture books by Latinx creators- Parents looking for bilingual content and bicultural kids' books- Kids who want to read about experiences different than their own- Fans of Dreamers, Our Class is a Family, and The Name Jar

Sendy Santamaria is an illustrator from San Diego currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up along both sides of the border between San Diego and Tijuana and spent a lot of time daydreaming on the San Diego Blue Line trolley. She received her BFA in Illustration from California College of the Arts. She enjoys storytelling with multiple mediums. Her work celebrates everyday narratives and Chicanx culture. She is inspired by migration, perseverance, pigeons, and love.