Mi papá es un agrícola / My Father, the
Farm Worker by J. Roman
Perez Varela with illustrations by Jose Ramirez is an award-winning tribute to
the thousands of harvesters whose labors allow us to put food on our tables.
The life of a farmworker is portrayed in a deeply personal telling as a son relates a typical day in his father’s life from sunrise to long past sunset as “He walks, leaving thousands of steps over Mother Earth.” Back bent, hands cracked, he toils on. Even when there is defeat in his eyes, there is also hope for his family’s future.
The
language is simple, but this heartfelt story is rich with a depth of
understanding that comes from Varela’s own experiences as a first-generation
Mexican American who hand-picked crops to survive, while working hard in school
to secure a better life.
Ramirez
brings a sensitivity to the illustrations that enrich the narrative through the
use of strong lines and bold colors.
The
subject of this narrative is farm laborers; however, it speaks also to the
shared dreams, and dedication of families from across a multitude of cultures
who struggle to make a life for themselves.
Mi
papá es un agrícola / My Father, the Farm Worker is an important reminder of
what we owe to these men, women, and children whose work is often
invisible.
Highly
recommended for home and school libraries.
