**A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK**
The remarkable true story of Jovita Valdovinos, a Mexican revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for her rights!
* "Graceful . . deft . . . mesmerizing. . . . Bravery and determination prevail in this inspiring tale." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Gorgeous...hits the perfect balance of lively and lyrical...outstanding." - School Library Journal, starred review
* "Exquisite prose. . . . stunning spreads." - BookPage, starred review
Jovita dreamed of wearing pants! She hated the big skirts Abuela made her wear. She wanted to scale the tallest mesquite tree on her rancho, ride her horse, and feel the wind curl her face into a smile
When her father and brothers joined the Cristero War to fight for religious freedom, Jovita wanted to go, too. Forbidden, she defied her father's rules - and society's - and found a clever way to become a trailblazing revolutionary, wearing pants!
This remarkable true story about a little-known maverick Mexican heroine is brought vividly to life by her great-niece and Américas Award-winner Aida Salazar, and Eisner Award-honoree Molly Mendoza.
Praise for Jovita Wore Pants:
* “A young Mexican freedom fighter proves that traditional gender roles aren’t important―heart is. Gracefully told, with deft use of figurative language, the story is mesmerizing . . . focusing on one incredibly relatable, resolute individual. The illustrations are replete with vivid hues and bold brushstrokes that convey energy and movement. Bravery and determination prevail in this inspiring tale of unconventional leadership.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* “A gorgeous picture book about a groundbreaking woman who fought for gender equality and made a mark on Mexican history. . . . This telling hits the perfect balance of lively and lyrical, giving readers the sense that this larger-than-life legend is worthy of awe and celebration. The empowering message that young people should cast gender-limiting stereotypes and barriers aside to do what’s right will feel revelatory for readers. Mendoza’s magnificent artwork . . . perfectly match[es] Valdovinos’s sweeping story. Readers will be able to feel the wind on their faces as she gallops on her horse and accomplishes great feats.” ― School Library Journal, starred review
* “Salazar’s exquisite prose shows how these clandestine escapades enriched and strengthened Valdovinos. . . . The book deftly captures Valdovinos’ dynamic metamorphosis into a warrior in a series of stunning spreads. . . . Mendoza’s illustrations are a whirlwind of color and energy.” ― BookPage, starred review
“The illustrations are bold, dramatic, and dynamic, featuring fiery and colorful drawings which complement the text well. Young readers will be captivated by Jovita's actions and the story of her life. . . . This is an exciting adventure story and will make for a good read aloud for Women's History Month or a study of Mexican history.” ― School Library Connection, recommended
“Painterly brushwork in Mendoza’s ink and digital illustrations emphasizes boldness and movement with strong colors that swirl and blend together, accompanying poetic text.” ― Publishers Weekly
Distinctions and Praise for Land of the Cranes:
2020 Américas Award Winner
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book
New York Public Library's Best Books of 2020
Northern California Book Award Finalist
California Library Association -- Beatty Award Winner
Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book
Rise: A Feminist Book Project List
미국 오리건 주 포틀랜드에 살고 있는 삽화가. 퍼시픽 노스웨스트 예술대학을 졸업했고, 2015년 SOI 학생 대회에서 록스타 게임상을 받았다. 어도비, 뉴욕타임스, 사이언티스 매거진 등에 그림을 그렸다. 2019년에 출간된 그녀의 첫 번째 그래픽 소설 『스킵』은 비평가들의 호평을 받았다.
Molly Mendoza is an artist living in Portland, Oregon. Through their work they explore the complex emotions of interpersonal relationships and self-love with a focus on layered visual storytelling, mark-making, and color. They write stories, they paint murals, they teach students, and they draw. For picture book inquiries, Molly is represented by Hannah Mann at Writer’s House. For all other job inquiries please contact Molly at this.is.mollym@gmail.com