Saudade: Our Longing for Brazil

by Ana Crespo, André Ceolin (Illustrator)

Overview

If your heart has ever ached remembering a place or a person, a smell or a taste, then you’ve felt saudade.

Saudade is a Portuguese and Galician word with no perfect translation to English; it’s a strong, melancholy longing for something you once had. Hiking in the hills, a little girl and her Brazilian immigrant mother contemplate what makes them feel saudade. A cool salty breeze miles from the ocean; the smell of Mamãe's perfume; memories of playing with cousins under trees or waterfalls, riding waves with grandparents who are now stuck in the square of a video call.

Though deeply woven through Brazilian music and literature, saudade is a familiar companion to us all. Readers who live far from loved ones or have adopted new homes will especially connect with this exploration of nostalgia and yearning.

An endnote offers author Ana Crespo’s personal story of saudade as a Brazilian immigrant, and a glossary covers other Portuguese words the mother and daughter use. Andre Ceolin’s vivid illustrations, twining with daydreamy wisps of haze, set the perfect mood for this bittersweet, profoundly human story.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823452293
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	06/25/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	990,276
Product dimensions:	8.79(w) x 10.29(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ana Crespo is happiest when surrounded by nature. So, Ana spends her summers traveling around the United States, visiting National Parks, and exploring some of the most beautiful places in America. She usually returns from her trips full of ideas for new stories. Her previous titles include Hello, Tree, Lia and Luís: Who Has More?, The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story, and the My Emotions and Me series. Originally from Brazil, Ana lives in the Rocky Mountain region with her husband and kids.

Andre Ceolin has been drawing since he was four years old. After early careers in advertising and pharmaceuticals, his passion for art won out, and he became a full-time, self-taught illustrator. He has illustrated more than thirty picture books, including With Lots of Love, written by Jenny Torres Sanchez, and A Beginner’s Guide to Being Human, written by Matt Forrest Esenwine. He is based in Brazil.

Editorial Reviews

"A poignant exploration of longing and connection."—Kirkus Reviews

"This makes an excellent fit into SEL lessons, expanding emotional vocabulary and exploring the way languages can broaden and enrich our inner lives."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

2024-03-23
A mother and child navigate the depths of memory amid the beauty of a picturesque wood.

Every time the two of them hike together, the mother whispers, “Que saudade!” At first the young narrator is hesitant to ask what it means. When the little one finally asks, Mamãe tries to put the feeling into words to help the child understand. She describes a sense of nostalgia and the memories that bubble up when scents, feelings, or places remind her of growing up in Brazil. Saudade is “a strong longing for something you can’t have.” While Mamãe enjoys reminiscing, she also feels heartache; she misses her homeland and loved ones. The child remembers a recent visit to Brazil, where the little one had fun adventures, hiking with cousins and swimming with grandparents. But now the child must use a laptop to communicate with those relatives. Memories are bittersweet when family members are so far away. The term “saudade” lets the little one name the feeling, and while these emotions are painful, they help the child feel connected to culture and family. Softly rendered digital and watercolor illustrations aptly bring to life the fond memories recalled throughout the story, while the text exudes tenderness. In an author’s note, Crespo discusses this Portuguese and Galician word further and speaks to her experiences as a Brazilian immigrant. Mamãe and the child have tan skin and brown hair; a broad range of skin tones are depicted throughout.

A poignant exploration of longing and connection. (Portuguese glossary) (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews