Floating on Mama's Song (Flotando con la Canción de Mamá)

by Laura Lacámara, Yuyi Morales (Illustrator)

Overview

Anita's mama loves to sing. She sings such beautiful, happy songs that something magical happens: Everyone who hears her music floats high above the ground. But then Mama stops singing. Can Anita find a way to bring back happy times and magical moments for her family?

Debut author Laura Lacámara's lyrical, uplifting tale is paired with Yuyi Morales's stunning art for a magical celebration of family, music, and happiness.

A la mamá de Anita le encanta cantar. Sus canciones son tan bonitas y felices que crean algo mágico: todo el que escucha su música se eleva y flota en el aire. Pero la mamá de Anita deja de cantar. ¿Logrará Anita recobrar los tiempos felices y los momentos mágicos para ella y su familia?

La lírica e inspiradora historia de Laura Lacámara y el arte espectacular de Yuyi Morales retratan una celebración mágica de la familia, la música y la felicidad.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060843687
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/24/2010
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	211,199
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Language:	Spanish
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Laura Lacámara is a Cuban American author and illustrator. Her mother, an opera singer in Cuba, was the inspiration for Floating on Mama's Song, her first picture book. Laura lives in Venice, California, with her husband, Hal, and their daughter, Annalisa.

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Laura Lacámara es una autora e ilustradora cubano-americana. Su madre, una cantante de ópera en Cuba, fue quien inspiró Flotando en la canción de mamá, su primer libro para niños. Laura vive en Venice, California, con su esposo Hal y su hija Annalisa.

Yuyi Morales's Mexican childhood is the inspiration for her award-winning artwork. Her illustrations for Just in Case were awarded the Pura Belpré Medal. Yuyi lives in San Francisco, California.

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Su identidad mexicana ha sido la inspiración de Yuyi Morales para su galardonada obra artística. Sus ilustraciones para Just in Case ganaron la medalla Pura Belpré. Yuyi vive en San Francisco, California.

Editorial Reviews

Lacámara debuts with a whimsical bilingual tale of a family whose love of music takes a magical turn when the narrator, Anita, turns seven. Anita arrives home to find her mother singing: nothing unusual there, except that she's floating in the air while doing so. Mother and daughter are delighted, but Anita's grandmother is displeased, as are the neighbors. Promising not to sing breaks Anita's mother's spirit, and it's up to Anita to set things right. Morales's luminous paintings are a vision, rife with sly characterizations, warm familial bonds, and the joy that music brings. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Anita grew up in a house that was always full of the sweet sound of her mother's singing voice. Then one day, on her seventh birthday, Anita found her mother and dog floating on her mother's song. When Anita's grandma found out that the singing caused listeners to float she demanded that Anita's mom stop before someone got hurt. So Anita's mom reluctantly agreed, but with each passing day and unsung songs Anita's mom grew more and more depressed. Soon the entire town was draped in sadness. With her grandma's help Anita found an old photograph that was sure to cheer her mom up. To everyone's surprise the photo was of a cow stuck in a mango tree. Anita's grandma had the same "gift," but chose not to sing and soon became a bitter old woman. Moral of the story: you cannot hide what is in your soul. The illustrator does a beautiful job in portraying the whimsical feel of the author's words. Photographs carefully placed on walls add a lovely personal touch to story. Reviewer: Mandy Cruz

Children's Literature - Mandy Cruz

When Anita turns seven, something magical happens—her mother's singing makes listeners float. But societal pressure soon quiets Mama, making her spirit sick. To help her mother, Anita unlocks a key to her grandmother's past, allowing the family to once again rise in song. Morales's lyrical illustrations, done in a warm, soothing palette, work well with the dual-language text. Compositionally they are flowing, organic and rounded; but the most intriguing aspect of the artwork is the way the Pura Belpré winner draws with the computer, using it to successfully execute her vision. Textures are created and colors are applied to appear like a pastel, but instead of being muted and muddled, she uses digital collage to create the hard edges that define the boundaries between the organic shapes. In one tender spread, Anita braids Mama's hair, while her baby brother blows bubbles, delicately expressing Mama's sadness while capturing the children's loving, innocent gestures. Together, author and illustrator offer a story filled with whimsy and humor about the power of voice and family. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

K-Gr 3—Anita comes home from school on her seventh birthday to find her mother singing opera and floating in the air. Outside, her dog, Tito, is also floating. "'It's been happening all day, every time I sing!'" says Mama. Then Anita realizes that everyone who hears the music floats, too. But, when some nosy neighbors complain that their pig, goat, and cow are floating, Grandma orders her daughter to stop singing. Mama grows sad, the cow won't give milk, the pig won't eat, and the goat won't sleep. Everyone is miserable. An old picture with a cow stuck in a mango tree helps Anita, Grandma, and Mama discover the special gift that all the women in the family have. Lacámara's debut weaves together a stirring Caribbean tale inspired by her Cuban roots and her mother's opera singing. Both the English and Spanish versions of the story are fun and easy to read, and also well translated. The fusion of Morales's collage illustrations, with bright energetic colors, large warm brown characters, and real photographs interspersed with digitally enhanced foliage, will help children's imaginations take flight. A grand addition to most bilingual collection.—Angélica Sauceda, Anaheim Public Library, Anaheim, CA

School Library Journal