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When We Love Someone We Sing to Them: Cuando Amamos Cantamos Hardcover – Illustrated, Oct. 11 2018
Maya Christina Gonzalez (Illustrator) Find all the books, read about the author and more. See search results for this author |
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Selected for the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow List. A reclamation of the Mexican serenata tradition, follow the story of a young boy who asks his father if there is a song for a boy who loves a boy. Como reapropiación de la serenata Mexicana, Cuando Amamos Cantamos cuenta la historia de un niño que le pide a su padre que canten una canción para un niño que ama a otro niño.
When We Love Someone We Sing to Them reframes a treasured cultural tradition to include LGBTQ experience. In this book, we learn about the Mexican tradition of singing to family and loved ones through one boy who naturally assumes the tradition includes him and his experience.
Watch a tradition expand as limitations are lifted to include everyone, all the way to remembering Xochipilli, the Mesoamerican deity of creativity, song, and dance.
A perfect book to bring tradition and inclusion into the conversation and support our LGBTQ young ones in knowing that they belong and always have, while providing pride in both our Mexican heritage and our LGBTQ culture and history as families.
A bilingual story with illustrations (English/Spanish)
About the Illustrator: Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book illustrator and author. She has illustrated more than 30 children's books many of which she also wrote. Her books have been recognized by the Pura Belpré award, Américas Book Award, and International Latino Book Awards. She is the co-founder of Reflection Press. As part of the Press' mission to uplift new voices, she served as mentor for the writing of this book.
- Reading age7 - 10 years
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level2 - 5
- Dimensions20.96 x 0.64 x 27.31 cm
- PublisherReflection Press
- Publication dateOct. 11 2018
- ISBN-101945289147
- ISBN-13978-1945289149
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Review
Selected for the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow List.
International Latino Book Award Winner - Best Children's Fiction Picture Book
"What a groundbreaking gem of a book that recognizes and celebrates the first heartbeats of a boy's crush on another boy. This sensitively written story and its stunning illustrations hold up to the light an emotional truth that has heretofore been whispered and sings it to life!"
- Rigoberto González, award-winning author, critic and educator
"A book for parents as much as for children that should have been published centuries ago."
- F. Isabel Campoy, award-winning children's book author and educator
"Families of all backgrounds will love this sweet, evocative, beautifully illustrated book. It transported me to childhood places and reminded me, now as a mom and educator, of how important it is to cultivate our "garden of memories" with mariposas, fuerza, and kindness. Trabajo conmovedor!"
- Renata Moreira, Executive Director, Our Family Coalition
"When We Love Someone We Sing to Them is touching, beautiful, and necessary. The intricate weaving of song through relationships--between parent and child, child and parents, child and love--gives life to a story that children can embrace from the heart."
- Innosanto Nagara, bestselling author of 'A Is for Activist' and more
"Every word and vibrant illustration in this book makes my heart flutter. How wonderfully refreshing to read a story that unstitches tradition to reweave it with enough space for us all."
- Lourdes Rivas, educator and author of They Call Me Mix
"A wonderful reminder to us as parents, guardians, and caregivers that children already recognize the harmony of el bonito amor and need us to help them share it."
- Manuel Muñoz, award-winning author and educator
About the Author
Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book illustrator and author. She has illustrated more than 30 children's books many of which she also wrote. Her books have been recognized by the Pura Belpré award, Américas Book Award, and International Latino Book Awards. She is the co-founder of Reflection Press and served as mentor for the writing of this book. A queer, femme Chicanx activist, she lives in San Francisco, California with her partner, Matthew, and two kids. www.mayagonzalez.com
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Product details
- Publisher : Reflection Press; Illustrated edition (Oct. 11 2018)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1945289147
- ISBN-13 : 978-1945289149
- Item weight : 363 g
- Dimensions : 20.96 x 0.64 x 27.31 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #899,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,154 in Poetry for Children
- #56,816 in LGBTQ2S+ Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
As a young person, Maya Christina Gonzalez grew up under the hot pink sunsets of the Mojave Desert. It was in the brilliant hot pinks of the sunset that she finally found her reflection in her environment. At a very young age Maya understood the importance of seeing one's self reflected in one's world. When working with children, she often recalls her favorite page of any book as a child: those empty pages at the back. It was there that she used to draw in her round, Chicana face!
She has now created art for upwards of 20 award-winning, multicultural children's books. The first book she ever wrote, My Colors, My World was given the Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Award.
What reviews are saying:
Animals of the Iquazu by Francisco Alarcon and illustrated by Maya
"The simple words--often playfully integrated into the illustrations as shaped poems--stress the natural balance of the Iguazú... The multimedia illustrations feature lush, glowing paints that depict the animals (including humans) set against a backdrop of cut-paper strips that comprise the rainforest's verdant growth. Stunning." --Kirkus Starred Review
My Colors, My World by Maya
"The exaggerated facial features of both Maya and her feathered friend capture the contentment they find through enjoying the beauty of their world . . . Recommended for public libraries and bookstores." --Criticas Magazine
I Know the River Loves Me by Maya
"The author's love and respect for the natural beauty and rhythm of the river and how it sustains her through quiet and vibrant moods is vividly portrayed in both her words and paintings. . . Inspiring and peacefully thought-provoking." --Kirkus Reviews
Nana's Big Surprise by Amada Irma Perez and illustrated by Maya
"...fantastically engaging... a treasure hunt for found objects... a wonderful book about the love and support of a family. " --ForeWord
Maya currently plays and plays in San Francisco. She wants to share the important lessons she has learned from her only and deeply loved teacher Creativity. In this spirit she has created a small press to share her lessons to support educators, fellow artists and especially children.
She loves to share her 3 rules:
1. Everyone is an artist.
2. There is never a right or a wrong way to make art.
3. Art is always an act of courage.
To learn more about her curriculum, philosophies and much more...please feel free to visit her here: www.reflectionpress.com
To see prints from her children's books...please visit her here:
mayachristinaprints.etsy.com
And to see more about her fine art and her work in the Contemporary Chicano/a Art Movement...feel free to go here: www.mayagonzalez.com
Dr. Ernesto Javier Martínez is an interdisciplinary literary critic, an award-winning writer, and a tenured associate professor in the Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon. His first short film, La Serenata (2019), directed by Adelina Anthony, has screened at more than 20 film festivals worldwide, has earned 9 best short film awards, and has been licensed by HBO. His award-winning book, When We Love Someone We Sing to Them/ Cuando Amamos Cantamos (2018), was illustrated by the critically acclaimed artist Maya Gonzalez and is the first bilingual children’s book published in the United States about a boy who loves a boy.
www.ernestojaviermartinez.com
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries

We see loving connections between this boy & his parents. We see him supported, as he participates in a serenata tradition, which is lovingly described, to express what’s in his heart for a special boy in his life.
I wish this was available in more libraries! Every collection wishing to provide understanding and inclusion for all youth, should have this gem of a book. It is a great book for inspiring meaningful conversations & sharing.


Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019
We see loving connections between this boy & his parents. We see him supported, as he participates in a serenata tradition, which is lovingly described, to express what’s in his heart for a special boy in his life.
I wish this was available in more libraries! Every collection wishing to provide understanding and inclusion for all youth, should have this gem of a book. It is a great book for inspiring meaningful conversations & sharing.






