Martí’s Song for Freedom/ Martí y sus versos por la libertad

Otheguy debuts with a bilingual story, written in gentle and measured verse, about activist José Martí, detailing his efforts to free Cuba from Spanish rule—and its people from slavery—by disseminating pamphlets and writing for newspapers. After being jailed and exiled to New York, Martí continued his campaign to liberate the Cuban people while finding solace in the Catskills: “the grass grew wild/ and seemed to whisper/ that Cuba still needed him.” Vidal (Little Bek Longtail Learns to Sleep) uses a subtle folk art style in her detailed gouache illustrations, creating people who resemble terra-cotta figurines. Excerpts from Martí’s Versos sencillos thoughtfully underscore this moving account of his crusade for justice. Ages 8–10. Author’s agent: Adriana Domínguez, Full Circle Literary. (July)