Rafa Counts on Papá

by Joe Cepeda

For fans of Guess How Much I Love You? and Just Me and My Dad comes a heartwarming story perfect for Father's Day about a son and his papá who love to measure everything, including their love for each other.

Rafa and his papá love to count and measure together. They know how many branches they climb to their favorite spot, they know how high their dog Euclid can jump, and they know how far they can run. But there’s one thing Rafa can't count or measure because it is infinite: the love that he and his papá share.

Pura Belpré Honor illustrator and author Joe Cepeda celebrates curiosity and shows the tender and playful relationship between father and son on every inch of the page. With a subtle nod to introducing concepts, from real objects to the abstract, readers feel the immeasurable love of this Latinx family as Papá delights in spending time with Rafa.

Genres: Picture Books, Mathematics, Family, Love, Latinx, Childrens, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Joe Cepeda grew up in East Los Angeles, California. At first, he studied to be an engineer. He went back to college later to study art. He has done illustrations for magazines as well as for children's books. Joe Cepeda thinks that children who want to be artists or illustrators should read a lot and study math.

Joe Cepeda is the illustrator of many awarding-winning picture books including Peeny Butter Fudge by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison, What a Truly Cool World by Julius Lester, a Family Life Magazine Top 10 Best Books of the Year, a Family Fun Critic's Choice, and BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, Mice and Beans by Pam MuÑoz Ryan, and Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley which was an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Mr Cepeda received his BFA in illustration from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. Cepeda received the Recognition of Merit Award for 2000 from The George G. Stone Center for Children's Books. His illustrations have appeared in publications such as The Los Angeles Times; Buzz, Inc. Magazine; and Latina Magazine.

Reviews

[Raul Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The minimal text makes this book ideal to be read by adults to their kids, pre-K through maybe 2nd-grade. Moreover, it's the author's own color illustrations that dominate these pages.

The oil/acrylics convey the love of math shared by young Rafa and his dad -- by the presence of counting instruments like an abacus and clock faces; but also by house items that, I think, invite the reader to count.

The focus was on the father/son bond. But I came across what, to me, felt like a bonus in the two-page spread inside the back cover: framed photos of more family (one may be of abuela), along with milestones (e.g. kindergarten graduation).

The only Spanish word that I saw repeated in the book was Papá. Yet this, and the name Rafa, made it evident the family is of a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) culture, to which I can relate.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple story is about a father and son who love to measure things. Of course, there are things that are not measurable, like the love a son for his father and a father for his son. Cepeda's text is simple and lends well to a read aloud. His illustrations are like acrylic paintings and their vibrance and joy will likely bring repeated check outs for this sweet story.

I would share this in a unit for measuring as young children will find the tools in the illustrations helpful in gathering measuring tools. If you need books with fathers and their sons, this is a great choice!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafa and his father love to measure things They each must know the exact length and height of whatever they are interested in. But when Rafa asks if they can measure love, his father shows him how love is measured.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rafa is the happiest when he knows exactly how much.”

Rafa and his father love to measure things. But can love be measured? They are about to find out.

Sweet

[Veronica McFarlin]

Rafa loves to measure things with his Papa. The book explores all the different things that they measure together and the different ways that they quantify their measurements (yellowest, biggest, etc.). The book has a really sweet ending, where Rafa and his Papa explore how they can measure their love for one another.

I would use this is a math unit on measurements. It shows that there is more than one way to measure something and that objects can have more than one measurable quality. Students can then practice measuring things around the room with rulers and with nonconventional measuring units (i.e. the chair is how many crayons tall).

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fun to see everything they count or measure and with what kinds of tools, ranging from simple & common to quite complicated, but always homemade. The love aspect points towards not everything being quantifiable, and that not making those things less real and true. (Definitely thought a little of Guess How Much I Love You here, but all the other measurement along the way is *very* different!)

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a Father's Day book as I thought it would be. It doesn't mention the holiday or anything like that, but it shows the relationship between Rafa and his Papa which is really sweet and nerdy. They're very into measuring and science and I love it. I guess if your dad and you are into science this would make a cute gift for Father's Day.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafa and Papá count and measure everything, but can they measure their love for each other? Just a sweet story about the love between a father and his son. The endpapers at the front of the book include all the things they can easily count and measure, and the endpapers at the end show pictures of family members. Maybe everything doesn't need to be counted and measured.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brightly and very detailed illustrated picture book warmed my heart. This is a fun way to include math in every day life as well as bring a new perspective on quantifying love. Make sure you look closely at the art to find silly and creative add ins (one of my favorites was the car vanity license plate).

[Angie Counsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, colorful book that shows counting and measuring along with a sweet dynamic between the father and sun. The father and son could be neurodivergent with their need to measure everything, but it is not a subject that is talked about, more just shown. This could be a book that would allow children to see themselves reflected in the book, especially if they had the same tendencies.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked where it was going in the beginning. The measuring was great and I wanted it to end with the STEAM element. It went on to measure love, which was cute, but it felt like 2 different books to me, even though it flowed well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet picture book about a boy and his father.
Rafa and his father like to measure, count and know exactly how much.
Rafa learns that some things are not quantifiable--like a father's love.

Tie-in: with math units on measurement; Valentine's Day, Father's Day.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rafa and his Papa love to quantify things in the world, but how to do you measure love? A wonderful little book for father and child and perfect for Father’s Day.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story of father/son love.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rafa and his papa likes to measure everything but how do they measure love? Cute story about a little boy and his father and love.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Rafa asks the question, "Can we measure love?" Very sweet with fun illustrations!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A father and son who love to measure things try to determine how love can be measures. preschool and up

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, would be good for Fathers day.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great read for Father’s Day. Rafa and his dad love to measure things, but love is tough to measure!

[Lynne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art and the ending sentiment. Beginning didn't quite grab or explain units of measurement, but ultimately, it was so sweet. Loved the art!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very sweet. I think I want this to be a story time book

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafa and his Papa enjoy counting and measuring different items together. But when Rafa asks his Pap to help him measure how much he loves him, the ability to measure the love takes on a whole different approach to means and measures.