What lies behind the brilliant colors and intricate patterns of a traditional Mayan tunic? A Guatemalan girl reveals the ways a handwoven garment connects her to generations of women before her. Together, the threads in my huipil hold a message, tell a story of who we are. Of who I am. A young girl proudly wears a colorful tunic, or huipil, that features the sun’s reflection. It symbolizes the lake she lives on, a design she sometimes embellishes with shimmering sequins and beads. Her abuela’s huipil highlights zigzag mountains to stand for her home of origin, while her sister’s boasts butterflies like the ones that she rides in her daydreams. Indigenous to Mesoamerica, huipils use colors, imagery, symbols, and motifs to evoke everything from the wearer’s village to her social status, from her cultural heritage to the things that she loves. Combining a poetic text with vivid cut paper and digitally painted illustrations, interwoven with patterns from the huipils, this captivating book ends with an author’s note exploring the history and process of this rich tradition, and the challenges of keeping it alive.
On sale: August 18, 2026
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 32 Pages
ISBN: 9781536227079
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez is the author of
Not Far from Here,
illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, and
Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown, illustrated by Loris Lora. A We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant finalist, she strives for inclusivity and diversity in all her creative endeavors and draws inspiration for her libros from her children as well as her Guatemalan and Basque heritage. Nydia Armendia-Sánchez lives in California.
Dana Sanmar is a Colombian illustrator who primarily uses a combination of cut paper and digital painting as her medium. She is the illustrator of
I Know Who I Am by Dorena Williamson and has illustrated numerous book covers, including for the middle-grade novel
Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti. Originally from Colombia, Dana Sanmar lives in Atlanta.
A vibrant celebration of community, culture, and tradition infused with familial love.
—School Library Journal
Armendia-Sánchez’s lyrical prose, rich with alliteration and metaphor, makes this a strong read-aloud. . . . SanMar’s digitally painted illustrations are layered with cut paper and threaded elements that blend traditional with contemporary; some compositions seem to lift scenes off the page with striking depth. . . . Girl power woven with ancestral pride.
—Kirkus Reviews
SanMar combines digital illustrations with cut paper and threads, lending a textured appearance to many of the pages. . . . The deeply saturated teals, greens, reds, and yellows pair well with the lively yet reverent tone Armendia-Sánchez achieves. . . . A faithful translation in the Spanish version manages to carry the poetic cadence in a readaloud just as with the English version.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
