by Mary L. Fahrenbruck, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM and Violet Henderson, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
At the 2022 Latinx Kitlit Book Festival, one of the featured authors mentioned the power and sanctity of “cousin love.” The audience’s overwhelmingly positive reaction caught our attention and caused us to think about picturebooks and young adult novels that featured the special bond between cousins.
Drawing from personal memories about the unique connections we share with our own cousins, we selected picturebooks and young adult novels that highlight the complex family relationships that develop across time and place. These texts highlight the creative ways that cousins sustain their bonds through various forms of communication from letter writing to social media, and gap the distances through visits by car and air travel.
This WOW Dozen list highlights the connections cousins have as the result of familial experiences around language, traditions, culture, history, hopes and dreams. We believe the texts will remind you of the enduring relationships you have with your cousins and encourage you to share a memory or two with the WOW Community in the Comment Box below.
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Olu and Greta by Diana Ejaita, 9780593384909, Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2022.
Despite Olu living in Lagos, Nigeria & Greta living in Milan Italy, these cousins employ various forms of communication to nurture their strong familial bond until the day they can finally meet in person.
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Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck & Jonathan Nelson (il.), 9781623542924, Charlesbridge, 2022.
Family & tribal values create an impenetrable bond that forever connect cousins Amanda & Kara regardless of where they live.
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Comings and Goings by Anna Kontoleon, Manos Kontolean & Fotini Tikkou (il.), 9781595729200, Star Bright, 2021.
In this USBBY 2022 Outstanding International Book, Alex flies alone from an unnamed “north” to the “south” to spend a much-anticipated summer vacation with his grandparents, aunt, uncle & cousins.
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Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh, 9780810938724, Abrams, 2010.
In this Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book, two young cousins who have never met share details about their lives in Mexico & the U.S., describing traditions, customs & everyday experiences through letter writing.
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When the Cousins Came by Katie Yamasaki, 9780823446773, Holiday House, 2020.
A genuine story that centers on the emotions of a young girl when her cousins come for a visit.
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Cousins Forever/ Primas para siempre by Elisavet Arkolaki & Charikleia Arkolaki (il.), Carmen Vargas Breval (trans. into Spanish), 9798708886897, Independently published, 2021.
Two cousins, who were once inseparable, maintain their special bond through video chat as one moves to a faraway land.
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When My Cousins Come to Town by Angela Shanté & Keisha Morris (il.), 9781513267227, West Margin Press, 2021.
A young girl looks forward to her cousins’ visit each summer & their traditions as she eagerly awaits receiving her nickname, solidifying their unique cousin bond.
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We Are Cousins/Somos primos by Diane Gonzales-Bertrand & Christina E. Rodriguez (il.), 9781558854864, Arte Publico, 2007.
This book portrays the dynamic relationships of a group of young cousins, with an overall theme of strong family bonds.
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Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh, 9781419710544, Abrams, 2014.
Family strength & unity support the Mendez family’s fight to desegregate California schools after Sylvia and her brothers are denied access to a school that her cousins are permitted to attend.
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Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay, 9780525554929, Penguin, 2020.
Wanting to learn more about circumstances surrounding his cousin Jun’s death, Jay travels from Michigan to the Philippines only to uncover the complexities of family relationships, an unfamiliar culture & his own immigrant identity.
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Swimming In the Monsoon Sea by Shyam Selvadurai, 9780887768347, Tundra, 2007.
Amrith’s life in 1980s Sri Lanka with his adoptive family is turned upside-down when a male cousin from Canada visits, & Amrith finds himself more than captivated with this visitor.
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Cousins by Virginia Hamilton, 9780785701002, Scholastic, 1992.
From the first African American author to win the Newbery Medal, this novel centers on the real & honest relationships of rivalry & jealousy between cousins, & the complexities that arise when tragedy strikes.
WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older “must have” books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.
- Themes: Angela Shansté, Anna Kontoleon, Charikleia Arkolak, Christina E. Rodrigue, Comings & Goings, Cousins, Cousins forever/Primas para siempre, Dear Primo, Diana Ejaita, Diane Gonzales-Bertrand, Duncan Tonatiuh, Elisavet Arkolaki, Forever Cousins, Fotini Tikko, Jonathan Nelson, Katie Yamasaki, Keisha Morri, Laurel Goodluck, Manos Kontoleon, Mary Fahrenbruck, Olu and Greta, Patron Saints of Nothing, Randy Riba, Separate Is Never Equal, Shyam Selvadurai, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, Violet Henderson, Virginia Hamilto, We Are Cousins/Somos Primos, When My Cousins Come to Town, When the Cousins Came
- Descriptors: WOW Dozen