Mama's Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation - Hardcover

Danticat, Edwidge

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525428097 ISBN 13: 9780525428091

Publisher: Dial Books, 2015

Synopsis

A touching tale of parent-child separation and immigration, from a National Book Award finalist

After Saya's mother is sent to an immigration detention center, Saya finds comfort in listening to her mother's warm greeting on their answering machine. To ease the distance between them while she’s in jail, Mama begins sending Saya bedtime stories inspired by Haitian folklore on cassette tape. Moved by her mother's tales and her father's attempts to reunite their family, Saya writes a story of her own—one that just might bring her mother home for good.

With stirring illustrations, this tender tale shows the human side of immigration and imprisonment—and shows how every child has the power to make a difference.

About this title

About the Author

Edwidge Danticat was born in Haiti and came to the United States when she was twelve years old. Her books have been selected for Oprah’s Book Club and have been twice nominated for the National Book Award. In 2009 Edwidge received a MacArthur Genius Grant. She lives in Miami, Florida.

Leslie Staub is a children's book author and illustrator from New Orleans, LA. She works in her studio in the country north of there with her dog, Rabbit, and all the wild creatures who live in the woods.

From School Library Journal

Gr 2–5—Brightly colored folk art with a Caribbean flair offsets the sadness of a little girl whose Haitian mother has been sent away to a prison for undocumented immigrants. Every night, Saya's father writes letters to the judges, their mayor and congresswoman, and newspapers and television stations, but no one ever writes back. During their weekly visits to the detention center, Saya's mother tells her stories of the wosiyòl, or nightingale. Soon, Saya begins to receive cassette tapes in the mail from her mother and finds hope and solace in the stories Mama has recorded for her. One night, amid a great deal of sadness and frustration, Saya writes a story of her own to ease the sadness. When Papa sends her letter to a newspaper reporter, everything changes, and Saya learns the incredible power of words and stories. Danticat, who was born in Haiti, was separated from her parents until she was 12 years old and beautifully conveys a story about loss and grief and hope and joy. Staub's oil paintings are eye-catching and will hold the interest of young readers. VERDICT This richly illustrated picture book is a first purchase, especially in communities with a large immigrant population.—Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC

About this edition

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0525428097
• ISBN 13: 9780525428091
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Staub Leslie