ISLANDBORN

Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places.

So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island--she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories--joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening--Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: "Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you."

Gloriously illustrated and expressively written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us--to our families, to our past and to ourselves.

Importance of community: Although this book celebrates Dominican culture, it captures the universal immigrant experience and showcases a warm, supportive community that keeps their own culture alive --something that fans of Last Stop on Market Street will respond to.

Leo Espinosa's work has been awarded Gold and Silver Medals from The Society of Illustrators, and his bright, expressive style is the perfect match for this immersive text.