The Interpreter

A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who's an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.

Some kids have one job: to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It's an important job, and it can even be fun. It's also hard work.

Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?

Olivia Abtahi's clever text and Monica Arnaldo's charming illustrations capture a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.


About the Author
Olivia Abtahi is a filmmaker and author. Her debut novel, Perfectly Parvin, received an SCBWI Golden Kite Honor, a YALSA Odyssey Honor, and numerous starred reviews. She is also the author of Azar on Fire and the forthcoming Rostam and the Red Dwarf. The Interpreter is her picture book debut. Olivia grew up in the DC area and now lives in Denver, Colorado, with her family.

Monica Arnaldo is the award-winning author of several picture books, including Are You a Cheeseburger? (a Kids' Indie Next pick) and Mr. S (a Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist Best Book of the Year). Her illustrations have also appeared in middle grade novels and children's magazines. She works both traditionally and digitally when she's illustrating, combining watercolor, pencil crayons, and Photoshop to create images full of character. She grew up in Ontario, Canada, and now lives in Quebec with her family.