ROSITA'S BRIDGE

Based on a true story, this rather lengthy but upbeat tale focuses on Rosita Fernandez who became known as "San Antonio's First Lady of Song" during a career that spanned more than 50 years. Writing in the voice of Carla Maria, Rosita's granddaughter, Fisher sets her story during the day in 1982 that culminated in Rosita's public swan song and a bridge across the San Antonio River that was dedicated in her honor. While her granddaughter flips through a family photo album, Rosita discusses her childhood and her debut as a performer, singing with her musician uncles as they traveled through South Texas. The woman guides Maria Carla through the streets of the city, sharing anecdotes about the history of San Antonio, where her large family (she was the ninth of 16 children) moved from Mexico when Rosita was young. Balancing sepia-toned facsimiles of vintage photographs with boldly hued depictions of past and present San Antonio (many of which, according to a concluding note, are also based on photos), Whitehead's art effectively evokes the narrative's setting and its varying time frames. Though the rambling, sometimes choppy text may be dense for a picture book, this is likely to find an appreciative audience in the regional marketplace. Ages 8-up. (Nov.)