Review - My Papi Has a Motorcycle

My Papi Has a Motorcycle
by Isabel Quintero
illustrated by Zeke Peña
Date: 2019
Publisher: Kokila
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo.

When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her.

But as the sun sets purple-blue-gold behind Daisy Ramona and her papi, she knows that the love she feels will always be there.

With vivid illustrations and text bursting with heart, My Papi Has a Motorcycle is a young girl's love letter to her hardworking dad and to memories of home that we hold close in the midst of change.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This picture book has the feel of a graphic novel in places, with the illustrations and onomatopoeia (sometimes in Spanish!) and the general flow of the story. It's a sweet little slice of life featuring a girl and her father and their daily motorcycle ride.

The text really brings the story to life, and although some of the words and imagery might be a little flowery and poetic for the youngest readers, the illustrations are fun to look at and will keep kids engaged. I personally really enjoy books with a feeling of nostalgia like this, even if it's a nostalgia that I can't relate to; when I'm hankering for shaved ice and the smell of sawdust and the whisper of the leaves of the lemon trees, then I know the author and illustrator have done their job.

Ultimately, this is a book about family, memories, and change. The story might be a little gentle and simple for some, but it's well worth reading. (The author's note at the end about the real city depicted in the book is a great addition and an interesting read.)

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5