Pilgrim Codex

"Mesoamerican mythology mixes and melds with a contemporary story of a family trying desperately to travel from Mexico to the United States. Told in the style of an ancient codex, the Vargas Ramírezes are determined to go from Iztapalapa, Mexico, Land of Clay Upon Water, north and, as with any epic journey, other characters come and go along the way. Threats appear in the forms of armed men and wild animals, but while violence is omnipresent, it never comes to pass on the page. Kids will come away from this book realizing how hard such a trip can be (and how important shoes are), but the standout element here is the art, which draws upon Aztec and Mixtec codices, as well as video games. Empathetic and timely. (For ages 4 to 8)"