(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A series of finely illustrated, bilingual children’s books from local author Virginia Martinez chronicle several memorable and educational journeys through Chicagoland.
It’s called “Adventures with Abuela,” and it follows young Rio — named for Martinez's grandson — and his abuela, which is the Spanish word for “grandmother.”
Each book in the series contains the Spanish and English language versions of the adventure printed side by side. The proceeds help local nonprofits with support programs for parents, some whose children have never even been downtown.
“My original idea for writing this book was for my family, but then I thought about this issue of children who live in certain neighborhoods who never left them,” Martinez said. “To me, those children have never experienced all the riches that the city offers.”
An adventure to the Shedd Aquarium is the second in the “Adventures with Abuela” series, which is now sold in independent book stores across the country and abroad, also available on Amazon.
“Today Abuela and Rio will embark on an adventure to take Wiggles, Rio’s seahorse companion, to find his seahorse friends before his nap time,” Martinez said of the Shedd Aquarium edition.
The Brookfield Zoo is featured in the first book, which received an award at the 2022 Latino Book Awards in Los Angeles.
“You know, fish and other animals that are actually in the aquarium — and the same with the zoo book — it goes through the actual exhibits and things that are there, so that kids can follow it,” she said.
For their next adventure, Rio and his abuela will visit the Museum of Science and Industry.
“I started on Facebook, and then my friends started saying, ‘You should write a book,’” Martinez said.
The Chicago-based series is meant to provide an interesting book for young children, as well as encouraging parents, grandparents and caregivers to read to their children in Spanish and English — and to enjoy the many wonderful places in the city.
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