“Mother says she came / from the West, from the West / where the trees talk to heaven and the spotted owls nest / And her mother came / eyes of black, eyes of black / on an Appaloosa horse / with a broad, strong back.” And so a young girl, with eyes “green like the sea” and long black hair, launches a lyrical narrative of her family tree, tracing back through her parents and grandparents. Within her two sets of grandparents, she describes a Native American, a European immigrant, a Mexican American, and an African American. This powerful picture book’s depiction of a multiethnic family, perhaps a symbol of America itself, includes those indigenous to this country, those who came here voluntarily, and those who were brought against their will, as in the pages which read “Grandfather’s people / had crossed the great sea / Their bodies were chained / but their souls fought free.” Hamanaka’s folk-art-inspired illustrations are framed—by materials including old wood, twigs, bas-relief, and beadwork—in ways that visually contribute to the impact of the words. Ultimately a celebration of an American family, Grandparents Song recognizes diversity and union in a rich, multilayered tribute. (Age 7 and older)

My eyes are green
like the sea, like the sea
And my hair is dark and
blows free, blows free.

Sing of your parents, and your grandparents too, and picture a magnificent family tree. Its roots are deep, nurtured with the lives of ancestors. Some left willingly for the new land, others did not -- and many were already here! Their blood flows in yourveins; their strength lies in your heart.

Inspired by American folk art, Sheila Hamanaka, author and illustrator of the best-selling All the Colors of the Earth, has created vibrant, stunningly beautiful illustrations to tell the story of our country's family tree.