Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People
by Aixa Pérez-Prado (Author) Aixa Pérez-Prado (Illustrator)
A stirring picture book biography of one of Latin America's most beloved singers and human rights advocates, Mercedes Sosa.
Have you ever heard a song that made your heart soar?
A canción that captured your corazón?
A voice so powerful that it made you feel ready to change the world?
This is the story of a singer whose voice sailed through the air like the wings of a condor,
inspiring people everywhere.
Written and illustrated by Aixa Pérez-Prado, this is the powerful biography of Argentinean folksinger and human rights advocate Mercedes Sosa. Affectionately known as La Negra, Mercedes used her musical talents and powerful voice to speak out against poverty and inequality in her home country. In the face of a cruel dictatorship, Mercedes refused to be silenced. She bravely stepped on stage to lend a "voice to the voiceless" with uplifting songs of empathy and empowerment. Her unforgettable music and messages of hope continue to resonate with people across the world to this day.
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Publishers Weekly
"Have you ever heard a song that made your heart soar? A canción that captured your corazón?" Via folk-style digital collage and lengthy, beat-by-beat text, Perez-Prado traces the life of Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009) alongside her country's sociopolitical climate. Growing up in a "humble home, sometimes there was not enough to eat, but there was always an abundance of amor." Watching her father "sweat, struggle, and strain. All for a few pesos" at a sugar mill impacted her worldview. Through her singing--first as a child, then as a member of the Nuevo Cancionero movement--Mercedes became a social justice advocate who "gave a voice to the voiceless." Argentina's 1970s and '80s rule by military junta subsequently saw her arrested, then exiled, and then becoming known as La Voz de Latinoamérica. Distilling Argentina's history into accessible text, the work ends on an uplifting note, discussing how the figure's "songs of empathy and esperanza, fearlessness and fuerza helped the country begin to heal." A lengthy afterword offers further context. Ages 7-10. (Sept.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
ALA/Booklist
A fitting tribute to an exceptional woman
Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. You can learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com.
Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. You can learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com.
JNF038050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Caribbean & Latin America
Picture books
Singers
Argentina
Sosa, Mercedes
