A few days ago, I watched a video on Facebook that spoke about how “funny” it was to see Democrats who opposed the Trump administration’s treatment of children at our southern border accepting the border situation now that Biden is president.
I need to make one thing perfectly clear. I (along with most other Democratic voters) do not support the mistreatment of migrant children at any border, in any country, under any administration. I will continue to demand the fair treatment of migrant children, especially from a Democratic president. If you feel the same, I would recommend Hear My Voice by Warren Binford for Project Amplify.
This moving picture book pairs the stories of children detained in immigration detention facilities with illustrations from 17 different Latinx artists. The stories are told in the children’s own words — in English on one side and Spanish on the other – providing an unflinching look at the experiences of thousands of migrant children who have been detained by the Unites States of America.
These children tell us how old they are, where they are from , how they came to arrive in America, and what their daily life looks like in the facility in which they are held. They share their fear and their hopes, creating a larger picture of the immigrant experience in our country today.
The back matter contains quite a bit of information about the situation at the border, a discussion guide for reading with children, and a list of ways you and your family can help. Ordering a copy of this book is an excellent first step, as proceeds will be distributed to Project Amplify, Human Rights Watch, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, and Las Americas to help support children in migration.
The illustrations in Hear My Voice are flawlessly executed. With a wide range of styles, each spread captures every artist’s unique depiction of the children’s experiences. Contributing artists include:
- Cecelia Ruiz (ceciliaruiz.com)
- Yuyi Morales (yuyimorales.com)
- Juan Palomino (Instagram)
- Paco Santoyo (pacosantoyo.com)
- Adriana Campos (adrianacampos-ilustra.com)
- Salomon Duarte Granados (saloduarte.com)
- Flavia Zorrilla Drago (flaviazdrago.com)
- Bayo Flores (bayobolus.com)
- Edith Valles (edithvalledesign.com)
- Gloria Félix (gloriafelix.com)
- Mirelle Ortega (mirelleortega.com)
- María Lumbreras (marialumbreras.com)
- Addy Rivera Sonda (addyriverasonda.wixsite.com)
- Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez (beatrizgutierrezh.com)
- Daniele Martín Del Campo (danielamartindelcampo.com)
- Dominique Arce (Instagram)
- Raúl Gonzales III (raulthethird.com)
Some may consider Hear My Voice a difficult read, but I believe it is essential. If we continue to call America “the land of the free”, we have to be honest about who is free and who is not. We must listen to these children and their stories, and we must hold our leaders accountable for their actions and the trauma they are inflicting.
Hear My Voice officially releases next week (April 13, 2021), but you can preorder your copy today wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)
I would like to thank Workman Press for generously providing me with a review copy of Hear My Voice. As much as I wish these stories weren’t true, I am honored to share the stories of these courageous children.
mutuallyinclusivebooks.com 