Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
Written & Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Abrams • 2010 • 32 pages
Hardcover ($15.95)
ISBN: 978-0-8109-3872-4
Ages 4-8
Two cousins—one in Mexico, the other in the United States—write letters to each other to share their perspectives of their worlds. The story goes back and forth as each of the two boys shares information about his neighborhood, how he gets to school, after-school activities, foods, traditions, and so forth.
Read Related: Write to a Friend Month: Reviving the Dying Art of Letter Writing
When the cousin from Mexico writes, he sprinkles some Spanish words in the text. The last page of the book shows the cousins on opposing pages waking up and saying that they will ask the other to visit.
Pura Belpré winner Tonatiuh’s artwork is influenced by the ancient art of the Mixtecs. His colors and images add a different dimension to the book for both children and parents. An explanatory Author’s Note with suggestions for its use can be found at the back of the book.
—Reviewed by Bianca Elliott, PhD., High School and University Educator
