Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music

K-Gr 2–Members of multiracial families may have more in common than expected. This is the story of a young boy whose grandfathers cannot understand each other because they come from different countries and speak different languages. This saddens the boy, especially at family gatherings. One day, the boy realizes that even though his Abuelo and his Opa do not speak the same language, they are both great accordion players and share a love for music that radiates to the whole family. Genhart, who is Mexican and Swiss American, is a clinical psychologist. The mixed Latin-European heritage is conveyed by the main character as he tries to reconcile the differences between the two sides of his family and the features that bring them together. The illustrations rely on expressive tertiary characters and a pictorial setting built with shades of brown and other brighter colors to depict the story line. This picture book may resonate with parents who are looking for a story centered on mixed-race families. Even more, the boy’s problem-solving abilities offer an opportunity to talk to children about situations that trouble them, and possible solutions.