Antonia: A Journey to a New Home

by Dipacho

Perfect for fans of Oliver Jeffers and Jon Klassen, this nearly wordless picture book tells a heartwarming and hopeful story of loss and new beginnings as a little girl and her dog, Antonia, journey with their family across a river to start a new life.

Like so many people around the world facing difficult times, the little girl and her family in this eye-catching and emotionally satisfying picture book have had to leave their home. The girl has brought along her belongings and her friendly, curious dog, Antonia. While waiting for a boat to take them across a river, she plays with other children who've also brought pets --a duck and a bird. But on the other side of the river, Antonia goes missing in the brush. The girl is distraught, until a new friend releases his own pet bird from its cage in an extraordinary gesture of solidarity and freedom. With colorful, whimsical illustrations and an uplifting message of resilience, this US debut from a talented Colombian creator will leave readers with a full heart.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Immigration

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Pseudonym of Diego Francisco Sánchez

Reviews

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction and dedication of this book make it heartfelt and meaningful. But the book itself is just a bit disappointing. Its purpose is beautiful, but the delivery is lacking.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent example of how important every single aspect of cover designs can be.On first glance, it's easy to assume that ANTONIA is the lively, lighthearted dog. My assumption there was correct, but there is so much more to notice.

First, Antonia is looking back, not ahead. Why is that? Is she escaping from someone? Leading the way? Playing with someone? And why is the subtitle "a" journey, not "her" journey? Any ideas?

As they say in the infomercials... wait, there's more!
Any careful look at a well-designed book cover will include checking out the back. Of course the text is intentionally helpful, hint-full. But before any words were added, you can compare the two halves of tis story that meet a reader's eye before the first page is turned. The front is in bright and "happy" colors, familiar in the styles of the light-noted lively dog, its doggish smile, and a hedge that could be found in any neighborhood. In stark contrast are the color tones and visual suggestions on the back. Images are blurred and blue-er, from the ground up through the ominous sky. That horizontal herdgery is less vibrant, nearly suggesting fencing or barbed wire with a slight squint as you view.

Any move has both good-and-bad aspects, This cover alone suggested to me that much higher stakes could be revealed once I cracked open the story. That's what the opening endpapers confirmed, as the dog is racing away from a lovely home with bags packed outside their door. Then, in several wordless pages that preceded the title page, the dog pauses, tongue lolling, at water's edge. He is soon joined by his young girl, arriving with a hug, followed by a boy with a duck on a leash.

Before the ongoing, eventful scenes unfold wordlessly, DIPACHO offers an introductory note to assure our understanding. He clarifies that many in his homeland, Columbia, are no longer safe in their longtime, lovely homes, but must escape to urban areas, at great risk and loss of their family heritage. Just as the back cover cautions, this introduction makes clear that "a journey" may be dangerous and difficult, and yet in the company of loved ones it is possible to find happiness and hope.

I will not spoil the story by revealing what "difficulties" this migratory group will deal with, but I urge readers to keep your eyes peeled for the many little visual details that suggest answers to your questions. Who arrives? Who survives? What should be celebrated and what should be mourned?

Sound like a lot? Well, current global events are "a lot", and without discussion and openness to questions from little ones whose big eyes and ears notice more than we realize, those can feel either unreal or overwhelming. Stories like this one, shared with trusted adults, can elevate empathy and expand understanding.

[Angeline]

Dipacho picture book “Anntonia A Journey to a New Home’ serves as an example of how the image or the drawing could be the explanation of the story as a whole. This picture book is especially a picture book that only shares a background information. The background information would be the story of Antonia having to leave her lovely home to find safety elsewhere. This is a topic that Is not acknowledged in today’s children picture books, how many people, including children, have to migrate to another country because of the elites taking over, people or companies who have other dreams to turn others' living house to their profit. This picture book relates to the topic of assimilating as well because despite all the hardships that have to be encountered there is always happiness; assimilating could make an improvement into making new friends and everyone might have problems but keeping a positive mindset helps improve the outcome. As well as relating to what has been discussed in the class regarding how indigenous people in children's literature are given extra features. In this picture book, Antonia is given a v voluminous hair texture which is unseen in other stories, and how the typical look is always straight or curly.

[SaraKat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a wordless picture book that tells of a group of families moving from one place to another while carrying all their worldly belongings. Adult readers can tell that they are refugees fleeing homes for hope of a new start. The happy little dog on the cover is a lie. This book just mean. A book about a little girl losing her dog on the way to a new home could be okay. But the author doesn't resolve the situation. The dog is lost on the way through the jungle and the ending just has a sad girl sitting in the truck. And the dog isn't missing. The dog is eaten by a large snake. This author obviously hates the reader...and dogs.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Columbian author, Dipacho, created a delightful picture book that outlines Antonia and her family's journey as they leave their homeland for another one. What is unique about this book is that it is wordless, Young readers ferret out the story from the illustration, thereby, giving them experience with context clues to make and confirm predictions. I enjoyed the author's use of muted colors to create a soothing effect to a scary concept of loss of their home and a new beginning.

[Jeretta Hall-Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the ending of this book. While it may be true to real life and there will definitely be some readers that it resonates with, I think just leaving the story with Antonia missing and the family still not yet settled is rather depressing and may cause a bit of anxiety in young children. Especially with children who may have been separated from family due to immigration. The family is still traveling and their dog is missing...leaves it kind of feeling hopeless.

[Two BookWorms Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colors are soft and soothing – nothing too dark and somber. Since this is a picture book, I feel it helps it become relatable and not just depressing.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Marsha Casner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads, minestrone, and Dipacho for this beautiful heartfelt book.

[Hunter Hackett]

Congratulations to Dipacho for his US publishing debut. Does Dipacho have a twitter handle?

[Dori · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really beautiful book but I think the delivery could have been a bit better. I loved the illustration and the way the message was conveyed without words. This book had me in tears.

[Bethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little story about moving away? What happened to the dog?

[Y.Poston]

a mostly wordless experience of what it's like
to move away to new circumstances

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle way to talk about loss

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Páginas sin palabras te sacan lagrimas