Yaya and the Sea
by Karen Good Marable; illus. by Tonya Engel
Primary    Millner/Simon    40 pp.
3/24    9781534462014    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781534462021    $10.99

On the first day of spring, Yaya and her mother get up before the sun to go to the sea. Mommy tells Yaya to “pick out the shiniest dimes. We are going to take them to Mama Ocean and make a wish.” Three of Mommy’s friends accompany them, and after a long ride on the subway, they are finally at the beach. The mother and her friends have white clothes and towels, and each has special gifts for Mama Ocean. The women walk into the ocean and share their gifts with her before quickly dressing and heading back to the city without looking back. The picture book conveys the joy of welcoming spring and of rituals that African Americans have adopted and adapted from their ancestors. Engel’s brightly colored paintings evoke the love, joy, and excitement that surround the moment. Marable’s straightforward storytelling captures the voice and perspective of a young child. An author’s note shares that the book is based on a real trip the author and her friends made to perform a ritual for Mama Ocean.

Pubissue-From the March/April 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.