A sharp and heartfelt story about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.
Some kids have one job: to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work.
Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?
Olivia Abtahi’s clever prose captures a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.
Praise for The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi; illustrated by Monica Arnaldo:
★ “Abtahi masterfully weaves an everyday tale that will be familiar to designated translators of all ages from immigrant families. . . . Arnaldo’s bright watercolor and pencil-crayon artwork provides much-needed levity . . . Sensationally true to life.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Abtahi (Twin Flames), making a well-developed picture book debut …[with] lively watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations from Arnaldo (The Museum of Very Bad Smells) show the strain of Cecilia’s moving back and forth, until supportive changes help her become a kid who’s happy to help, ‘...just not all the time.’” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “With its emotionally resonant look at one aspect of immigrant family dynamics, this title is a solid purchase for picture book collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Abtahi's story about circumstances of bilingual family life that sometimes force children into these adult roles is engagingly rendered in Arnaldo’s colored pencil and watercolor drawings that both reflect the silliness of the situation and neatly show how overwhelmed Cecilia becomes…In addition to nicely balancing an important topic with lighthearted comedy, the book also offers a solution of teamwork that is both thoughtful and respectful to the entire family.” —Booklist, starred review
Select praise for Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi: 2023 Texas Lone Star Reading List 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick 2022 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List 2021 New York Public Library Best Book 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book
★ “A joyful celebration of the right to take up space in the world.” —Booklist, starred review
Select praise for Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo: Amazon Best Book of the Month & Editor's Pick A Junior Library Guild Selection Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023 Indigo Best Book of the Year 2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2023 New York Public Library Best Book 2023 School Library Journal Best Book Booklist Editor's Choice
Olivia Abtahi is a writer and filmmaker born in Washington, DC. When she isn't drafting novels about awkward teens, you can find her working on documentaries about social justice and climate equity. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and their daughter.
View titles by Olivia Abtahi
A sharp and heartfelt story about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.
Some kids have one job: to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work.
Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?
Olivia Abtahi’s clever prose captures a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.
Reviews
Praise for The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi; illustrated by Monica Arnaldo:
★ “Abtahi masterfully weaves an everyday tale that will be familiar to designated translators of all ages from immigrant families. . . . Arnaldo’s bright watercolor and pencil-crayon artwork provides much-needed levity . . . Sensationally true to life.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Abtahi (Twin Flames), making a well-developed picture book debut …[with] lively watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations from Arnaldo (The Museum of Very Bad Smells) show the strain of Cecilia’s moving back and forth, until supportive changes help her become a kid who’s happy to help, ‘...just not all the time.’” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “With its emotionally resonant look at one aspect of immigrant family dynamics, this title is a solid purchase for picture book collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Abtahi's story about circumstances of bilingual family life that sometimes force children into these adult roles is engagingly rendered in Arnaldo’s colored pencil and watercolor drawings that both reflect the silliness of the situation and neatly show how overwhelmed Cecilia becomes…In addition to nicely balancing an important topic with lighthearted comedy, the book also offers a solution of teamwork that is both thoughtful and respectful to the entire family.” —Booklist, starred review
Select praise for Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi: 2023 Texas Lone Star Reading List 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick 2022 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List 2021 New York Public Library Best Book 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book
★ “A joyful celebration of the right to take up space in the world.” —Booklist, starred review
Select praise for Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo: Amazon Best Book of the Month & Editor's Pick A Junior Library Guild Selection Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023 Indigo Best Book of the Year 2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2023 New York Public Library Best Book 2023 School Library Journal Best Book Booklist Editor's Choice
Olivia Abtahi is a writer and filmmaker born in Washington, DC. When she isn't drafting novels about awkward teens, you can find her working on documentaries about social justice and climate equity. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and their daughter.
View titles by Olivia Abtahi
