05 May / My Tata’s Remedies | Los remedios de mi tata by Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford, illustrated by Antonio Castro L.
“My Tata has been helping people feel better for as long as I can remember,” young Aaron explains about his beloved grandfather. “He helps my family and me when we get hurt or feel sick. He helps the neighbors too. All anyone has to do is ask.”
Tata is renowned for his remedies, created from the jars and bags he keeps in his “sweet-smelling” shed in his backyard. He’s an expert in finding just the right combination to cure aches and pains, cleanse wounds, and make life a little better – and healthier – for all.
He’s got Árnica de la Abuela for bruises, Corn Silk for bee stings, Creosote branches for itchy feet, Cat’s Claw for diaper rash, Aloe Vera for burns, Mullein flowers for oncoming colds, and so much more. Little by little, he’s passing on his precious knowledge to Aaron … with the reminder that “‘Practice makes perfect,’” not just in healing, but in whatever you choose to do. Lucky for Aaron, his family, their many neighbors, Tata “‘always has a remedy, even if it’s just a hug.’” Those certainly work wonders, too.
Children’s book this may be, but we oldsters will have many revelatory moments of ‘I didn’t know that!’ In our overprescribed, overstimulated, overscheduled lives, author Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford reminds us about family traditions, cross-cultural and inter-generational support, building community, and taking the time to share, listen, and heal one another. She inclusively broadens her audience by offering a bilingual narrative. And, in case you don’t have a Tata nearby, Rivera-Ashford provides a “Glossary of Medicinal Herbs & Remedies” at book’s end, prepared by Professor of Herbal Medicine Dr. Armando González-Stuart of El Paso, Texas. Expert advice indeed.
Illustrator Antonio Castro L.’s signature style – minutely detailed, meticulously thorough, richly colored – enhances the realism of Rivera-Ashford’s story. Aaron could be part of your family, or your nearby neighbor; Tata could be your grandfather (if you were so lucky), or he could be a valued part of your wider community. Together, writer and artist capture the every day … and celebrate the Santo remedios – magical cures – whether medicinal, cultural, emotional, and otherwise, that we can all share with one another.
Readers: Children
Published: 2015