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Side by Side/Lado a lado

The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/La historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez
by Joe Cepeda
32p. 978-0-06122-781-3.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2—5—How many children knew that behind the 1960s National Grape Boycott was a woman named Dolores Huerta, alongside famous activist Cesar Chavez? Not only did Huerta coin the United Farm Workers' mantra, "Sí, se puede! Yes, we can!" but she also worked tirelessly with Chavez to create change for countless migrant farmworkers. Brown describes the widely different upbringings for Huerta and Chavez. As soon as they met, however, it was evident that together they were an unstoppable force. For 30 years, their momentum carried them through many important triumphs in the fight for social justice. The English and Spanish texts on each page are complemented by Cepeda's expressive, painterly illustrations done in a saturated color palette. While the vocabulary, pictures, and length of the story lend themselves to reading aloud to younger audiences, the subject matter is suited to older audiences as well. This piece of literature is a great way to introduce young people to topics such as civil rights, Cesar Chavez Day, immigration, and, of course, International Women's Day, to celebrate the life and achievements of a community activist and feminist who continues to play an active role within the Latino communities. A must-purchase for schools and libraries.—Shannon Dye, Peoria Public Library, AZ
Brown makes a significant contribution to the increasing number of books about César Chávez by focusing equally on his partner, Dolores Huerta. Their life stories are told in parallel until they meet and "side by side...began their journey." Huerta's accomplishments are admirable, and she gets her due in this heartfelt bilingual volume enhanced by Cepeda's emotion-filled mixed-media illustrations.
Monica Brown’s plot structure emphasizes Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez’s enduring partnership. In the beginning of the book, a parallel narrative alternates between their childhoods. Once they meet, however, the story becomes a single narrative. The two activists’ personalities are immediately established. Dolores is a talker, causing her grandfather to exclaim, “You must have seven tongues!” while Cesar is a sensitive listener. Joe Cepeda’s warm, lively illustrations capture the palpable, growing excitement—and success—of the farmworkers’ movement. The author’s note, with an accompanying photograph of Huerta and Chavez, provides further context and information. As debates over immigration rights persist, Huerta and Chavez’s work continues to be important and relevant.

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