All the Way to Havana

Starred review from June 12, 2017
The pre-1959 American car, held together, as Engle (Lion Island) so evocatively writes, with “wire, tape, and mixed-up scraps of dented metal,” has become a visual trademark of Cuba and testimony to its citizens’ resilience and ingenuity. One of these cars, a bright blue Chevy Delray christened Cara Cara (because her aging, patchwork engine makes sounds “like a busy chicken—cara cara, cara cara, cluck, cluck, cluck”) is the star of this contemporary story, taking the young narrator and his family from their rural home to a celebration with relatives in Havana. The masterly sense of place, color, and shape that make Curato’s Little Elliot stories so touching proves perfect for a landscape that’s larger than life. He and Engle chronicle Cara Cara’s journey in loving detail as the family moves along the coast and into bustling city streets, giving readers glimpses into daily Cuban lives—newlyweds in a Dodge convertible, laundry hanging from balconies as “a sea breeze sings.” It’s a wonderful introduction to America’s very nearby neighbor. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Michelle Humphrey, Martha Kaplan Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Starred review from May 15, 2017
Off to Havanna!A boy is thrilled to visit his new cousin in the city, but another member of the family, the beautiful, blue antique car called Cara Cara, isn't quite ready yet. (The importance of family and the fact that technology and money are in limited supply come together in the affection the boy holds for Cara Cara, the family heirloom that's been inventively repaired over many years and will belong to the boy himself someday.) Finally, after the boy and his father tinker under the hood, they are off. Colorful, detailed illustrations and animated, evocative text, peppered with Spanish and full of the excitement of a journey, guide readers through their small Cuban town, over roadways, and past other vintage cars to the destination--a family celebration! Energetic descriptions engage virtually all of the senses and will draw in readers across gender, race--the characters are primarily brown-skinned, and the protagonist's family is mixed-race, with a black father and pale-skinned mother--and nationality, while politics go unmentioned, as appropriate to the age of the audience. By focusing on the boy's observations and experiences--clothing hanging on a line, the understanding that you'll always give your neighbors a ride, the sights and sounds of old cars, the presence of crumbling balconies, the scent of the sea--Engle and Curato provide a child's view of Cuba that is extremely accessible and as striking as it is unforgettable. A vibrant snapshot of modern Cuba, full of rich, sensory detail. (Picture book. 3-8)

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June 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Accompanied by the vibrant onomatopoeia of an old rebuilt car, a brown-skinned boy travels with his family from their village in Cuba to the capital city, Havana, to celebrate the "zero-year birthday" of his cousin. The focus of this colorful picture book is on the car (nicknamed "Cara Cara"), one of Cuba's many mid-20th-century American vehicles maintained through constant tinkering. "Ours is so tired that she just chatters like a busy chicken-cara cara, cara cara, cluck, cluck, cluck." Award-winning poet Engle transports readers to Cuba through her lively verse, and Curato (author/illustrator of the "Little Elliot" series) does the same with his nearly photorealistic illustrations rendered in pencil, with digital color bringing out the bright tones of the tropics. Each spread includes endless detail, from the clothes hanging on the clothesline in the boy's backyard to Havana's beautiful architecture. The stars of the book, of course, are the 1950s cars, which Curato studied on a research trip to Cuba and depicts precisely in all their mixed-and-matched glory. While younger readers will simply enjoy the journey, older children may desire more information about the context of the story, some of which can be found in the author's and illustrator's notes. VERDICT A fun addition to the ever-popular genre of transportation picture books-this one with a unique perspective and message of perseverance.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2017
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Acclaimed Cuban American poet Engle here celebrates the persistence and ingenuity of Cubans, who have learned to make do in the face of poverty and scarcity. A young boy and his family prepare to travel from their rural home to Havana to celebrate the birth of a new cousin. Mama has baked a cake, and the gift is wrapped, but the family's 1953 Chevy, affectionately known as Cara Cara, is making horrible noises: Some of this island's old cars purr like kittens, but ours is so tired that she just chatters like a busy chicken. Papa lifts the hood, and father and son tinker until finally the car is roadworthy. So we purr cara cara / and we glide taka taka / and we zoom zoom. The party is festive and happy; the ride home smooth and sleepy. Engle's tone is upbeat throughout: she highlights modest country vistas, picturesque contemporary Havana, busy people going about their daily chores, and the profusion of noisy vintage cars. Curato's vibrant pencil and digital illustrations depict iconic images of Cubasmall farms, city neighborhoods, and government buildingsall in photographic detail. And while the antique cars may take center stage, the Cuban people also shine in their determination and resilience. A lyrical and beautiful offering that should help to humanize views of this island nation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
A contemporary Cuban boy and his family drive to Havana to visit a newborn cousin. Before they can set off, however, the boy must help repair the family's 1954 Chevy (one of the many pre-Revolution cars that are by necessity still widely used in Cuba), using "wire, tape, and mixed-up scraps of dented metal." Mixed-media illustrations capture the brilliant colors and scenic beauty of the island.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2017
A contemporary Cuban boy takes readers on a trip across the island as he and his family travel from their home in the country to Havana to visit his new baby cousin "on his zero-year birthday." Before they can begin the journey, however, the boy must help his father repair the family's ancient blue 1954 Chevy, "Cara Cara," using "wire, tape, and mixed-up scraps of dented metal." Readers are introduced to a piece of Cuban history through this story about the pre-Revolution cars that have by necessity been maintained and are still widely used on the island. Engle's use of onomatopoeia, at times replacing the sound of the car with animal sounds (honks, roars, growls, whines), gives a sense of the modern-day blend of rural and city life: "Some of this island's old cars purr like kittens, but ours is so tired that she just chatters like a busy chicken--cara cara, cara cara, cluck, cluck, cluck..." The coexistence of past and present is also seen in the illustrations--on one spread Cara Cara is followed down a dirt road by a horse-drawn wagon. The mixed-media illustrations capture the brilliant colors and scenic beauty of the island--both landscape and cityscape--as well as the multiracial makeup of its people. Endpapers are decorated with illustrations of pre-1960 car models still driven in Cuba. An author's note provides more information about the continued use of these older cars, and an illustrator's note details Curato's research visit to the island. celia c. perez

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)