Maya’s Blanket

* "This book is a great storytime addition for school-aged children due to its sincere and simple writing that translates well in both Spanish and English, the representation of culturally diverse characters, and the underlying message of resourcefulness, imagination, and appreciation for family traditions. Readers will also be entranced by the eye-catching illustrations of Maya's ordinary-to-extraordinary life.... Thanks to the depth of the images and the thoughtful text, readers will thoroughly enjoy wondering what Maya's blanket will be next."

"A familiar tale crosses cultures with almost magical ease. The story is based on the well-known Jewish folk tale in which an old, worn coat is turned into a jacket, then a vest, then a tie, here given a warm, Latino spin.... Diaz's beautiful, mixed-media illustrations feel like another sort of magic.... Readers may be eager to tell their own versions of the story--that's how magic works."

"[A] tender bilingual story inspired by a Yiddish folksong... The angular poses and vivid colors of Diaz's illustrations evoke the feeling of stained-glass windows in this uplifting story of passing time, enduring love, and creative reuse."

"The traditional Yiddish folk tale of the coat that is remade, over the years, into smaller and smaller garments, becomes an ideal bilingual story in the hands of Brown, who found inspiration in her Latino andJewish heritage.... Diaz's jewel-toned mixed-media illustrations reward close attention, with clever details and a rich folkloric feel, all overlaid with a dreamy patina that makes Maya's world seem both grounded in reality and quietly magical."

"This graceful, contemporary retelling of the traditional Yiddish folksong 'I Had a Little Coat' blends the author's Jewish and Latina heritage boldly and beautifully.... Caldecott Medal winner Diaz's (Smoky Night, 1995) illustrations bring a vibrancy to the narrative and infuse every page with luminous colors and textures.... Though culturally specific, its themes of love, longevity, and heritage are universal. This will beloved by readers of all ages as long as there are grandmothers and grandchildren, and it is a perfect choice for bilingual storytimes."