Mercedes Sosa

Voice of the People
By Aixa Pérez-Prado
Hardcover: $20.95

A stirring picture book biography of one of Latin America’s most beloved singers and human rights advocates, Mercedes Sosa.

Front cover for Mercedes Sosa by Aixa Pérez-Prado and Aixa Pérez-Prado
This book is also available in Spanish
Mercedes Sosa
By Aixa Pérez-Prado

Description

Have you ever heard a song that made your heart soar?

A canción that captured your corazón?

A voice so powerful that it made you feel ready to change the world?

This is the story of a singer whose voice sailed through the air like the wings of a condor,
inspiring people everywhere.

Written and illustrated by Aixa Pérez-Prado, this is the powerful biography of Argentinean folksinger and human rights advocate Mercedes Sosa. Affectionately known as La Negra, Mercedes used her musical talents and powerful voice to speak out against poverty and inequality in her home country. In the face of a cruel dictatorship, Mercedes refused to be silenced. She bravely stepped on stage to lend a “voice to the voiceless” with uplifting songs of empathy and empowerment. Her unforgettable music and messages of hope continue to resonate with people across the world to this day.

About the Creators

Aixa Pérez-Prado author photo. Aixa has short, wavy brown hair, tan skin, red lipstick, dangly earrings, a gold pendant necklace, and black shirt in front of a yellow background.
Aixa Pérez-Prado

Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. You can learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com.

Reviews

  • "Distilling Argentina's history into accessible text, the work ends on an uplifting note, discussing how the figure's 'songs of empathy and esperanza, fearlessness and fuerza helped the country begin to heal.'"

    - Publishers Weekly
  • "Accessible Spanish terms used within context pop up throughout the pages, enriching the text. . . . The illustrations add intensity, using rich hues, cutouts, and color overlays to enhance the drama of the action, punctuating the emotions beneath Sosa's lyrics and emphasizing the courage it took to sing those songs during the repressive regime. A fitting tribute to an exceptional woman."

    - Booklist

Hardcover

  • ISBN 9780892394708
  • Publication Date Sep 17, 2024
  • Trim Size 11 × 8.5 in
  • Weight 1.04 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Women
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Music
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America
  • Themes Bilingual, Biography / Memoir, Courage, Cultural Diversity, Diversity, Dreams & Aspirations, Dual Language, History & Civics, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Music, Nonfiction, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Spanish, Women's History
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 7 - 10
  • Grade Range Grades 2 - 8
  • Guided Reading V
  • Spanish Guided Reading W
  • DRA 50
  • Interest Level Grades 2 - 8
  • Reading Level Grades 2 - 8
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • ADA Site Compliance-Accessibility Policy