Laekan Zea Kemp is the Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, a young adult novel, as well as the picture book A Crown for Corina and numerous other titles for young readers. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Leo Espinosa is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer. His picture books include No More Naps by Chris Grabenstein; Islandborn by Junot Diaz, for which he was awarded a Pura Belpre illustrator award; and Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is from Bogotá, Colombia.

★ "Kemp's pensive, elegiac tale unpacks the hard-earned minutiae of a farming family's everyday lives, as well as the encroaching consequences of human-fueled climate change, told from a young girl's compelling, vivid perspective....Tender, expressive, and important." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Laekan Zea Kemp tells a tenderhearted story that depicts the hardships of tending a drought-stricken land yet maintains hope." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A book that motivates young readers to learn more about tending the land, growing food, and the impact of human overdevelopment on the environment." --School Library Journal

"An illuminating, galvanizing choice, particularly for agricultural areas disrupted by climate change." --Booklist

"[A] contemplative look at the real effect of a changing climate across three generations." --Publishers Weekly

"The thoughtful text has a lyrical, meditative quality to it, and the statement from the girl's father about the drought being caused by humans is notable for a picture book." --The Bulletin

Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books

Pub date: 2025-05-27

Length: 34 pages