abuela!
Welcome! Today on the Clay Ball Rose Show, we have the beloved children’s book, Abuela, written by Arthur Dorros & illustrated by Elisa Kleven!
Since the author & illustrator of this treasure are not available today, we will just interview the book, Abeula, herself!
CBR: Welcome, Abeula!
A: Thank you Clay Ball. It is a pleasure being here today!
CBR: Abeula, I don’t know if I ever told you this, but you are one of my favorite children’s picture books of all time!
A: Why thank you, Clay Ball! It is very kind of you to say so!
CBR: Ever since we met you in the Children’s Public Library, my daughter Seala & I have just loved reading you over & over again…can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: Well, I am the story of a grandmother (Abuela means grandmother in Spanish) and her granddaughter, Rosalba. We go to the park one day, & suddenly begin flying above New York City!
CBR: That is just one thing I love about you…the flying aspect!
A: The story I tell, through Rosalba’s eyes, is about the sights we see as we fly above New York City together.
CBR: But the story is about more than that?
A: Yes, I think it is also about the magic of a grandparent. Being with a grandparent is often a magical experience for a grandchild, & that is what my story captures!
Rosalba is never quite sure what will happen next when she is with her Abuela, but she knows it will be something wonderful & surprising!
CBR: That is how it is with my mother & her grandchildren, too! She is full of amazing surprises!
A: Clay Ball, if your children have grandparents nearby, they are very lucky indeed!
CBR: Oh, I agree! We are really so thankful for that! My parents travelled here to Earth from another galaxy, just especially to be close to all of their seven grandchildren!
…Abuela, another thing that I love about you, & why I read your story even after my children are fast asleep for the night, is the beautiful detail throughout each of your pages! Each time, I notice something new.
A: Yes, I have been made with loving care! There are lots of tiny details on each page that bring my story alive!
CBR: Why do you seem so textured?
A: Like most of us, I do not know exactly how I was created, but it seems that my illustrations were made with paint as well as bits of colorful paper & even fabric, for a magical, collage-like effect.
CBR: You are very, very beautiful Abuela!
A: Muchas gracias, Clay Ball!
CBR: Abuela, when travelling around the Universe, there are some things that seem very unique to a given location, & other things seem to spring up over & over again in many different times & places…there is a saying I have heard many times in my travels, & it is this:
The love of all the grandmothers is what holds the Universe in place!
A: That is a lovely saying! I agree, a grandmother’s & also a grandfather’s love can be a very powerful force in the life of a child & family!
CBR: Well, I would like to thank you so much for being here with us today, Abuela! We are really, really honored to have you on our show!
A: You are very welcome, Clay Ball! It was my pleasure to be here with you today!
Until next time,
love,
Clay Ball Rose
