Eloísa Y Su Ventanita Musical

A harmonious triumph.

Engle's lyrical text describes noises from the neighborhood animals and the traditional Cuban instruments the musicians play. Parra's distinctive hand-painted and digitally collaged art features characters with different skin tones and uses a pleasantly washed-out palette for backgrounds.

Focusing on music's power to heal and uplift . . . young Eloísa finds comfort in music as her mother tries to recover from a serious illness . . . Parra's signature-style illustrations portray the child sitting at a window with green bars as the community sweetens a difficult time, uplifting Eloísa and her family--and eventually giving way to unfettered connection outside the home.

Parra's digitally enhanced acrylic paintings have the directness, the warmth, and narrative quality of folk art, while placing the story within a distinctive setting. A heartening picture book.