At his new school or on the soccer field, all everyone wants to know is why Tomasito is in a wheelchair. His Papi gives Tomasito a new pet to make him smile, but this bird is a little bit different from the rest. Can Tomasito's featherless friend teach him that there's more than one way to fly? Can the cheers Tomasito hears on the sidelines ever be for him?
Award-winning author and poet Juan Felipe Herrera scores yet again with this sparkling story of friendship and self-empowerment. The brilliant acrylic paintings by Ernesto Cuevas, Jr., burst off the page with sheer joy.
Juan Felipe Herrera is a nationally renowned Mexican American poet, playwright, essayist, and teacher. His first children's book, Calling the Doves, won the prestigious Ezra Jack Keats Award for New Writers. Another book, The Upside Down Boy, has been adapted into a musical for young audiences and had its world premiere in New York in January of 2004. He teaches at California State University, Riverside.
Ernesto Cuevas, Jr. grew to love the arts through his experiences in the fields with his parents, who were migrant farmworkers. His vivid paintings represent a deep understanding and love for his Mexican American culture and history. A talented fine artist and founder of his own graphic design firm, Ernesto lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
• One of Críticas Magazine's Best Books of 2004
• 2005 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Award
"Desplumado is a unique and worthwhile book that turns a sensitive subject into an enjoyable story both in words and images. Highly recommended for all collections." — Críticas Starred Review
"Herrera's prose is a paean to those children who overcome adversity to create inclusion." — School Library Journal
"Tomasito's dream of flying with Desplumado and his incorporation into a soccer team help youngsters understand that disabled children share their longings and hopes, as well as the ability to achieve and participate. Cuevas's paintings are full-spread and boldly colored, combining realism with cartoon-style simplicity; their broad washes and fuzzy edges reveal the texture of the paper on which they were created. Both Spanish and English texts are direct, inviting, and expressive." — Kirkus Reviews
"This bilingual children's book is a thoughtful story that may well aid in the opening of young minds. Skillfully translated, the text contains fun sound-effect words such as "Pop-pop-zaz" and "¡Tilín!, ¡Tilín!, ¡Tilín!, ¡Tilín!" that add a feeling of presence and participation in the story. This book belongs in the collections of people who care about others and who wish to inform." — ForeWord Magazine
