Veo, Veo, I See You

by Lulu Delacre

From a New York Times bestselling and Pura Belpré Honor–winning creator comes a heartwarming picture book celebrating essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic that’s also a lively, bilingual game of Veo, Veo (I Spy).

Marisol’s mami is the best cook at Rosita’s Cafe! But now, the restaurant is closed. A bad virus—too easy to catch in small, crowded places—is going around.

Marisol, Pepito, and Mami still need to go out to bring Mami’s arroz con pollo to housebound Tía Olga and Cousin Johnny. As Marisol and Pepito watch the people working around the neighborhood, who their mother explains have essential work, Marisol thinks of the perfect game to
Veo, veo…
¿Qué ves, Marisol?
I spy…a trash collector. Essential work. Those bins were full!

By the time they get home, Marisol has another a way to show the people in her neighborhood that she sees them!

Genres: Picture Books, Latinx

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Three-time Pura Belpré Award honoree Lulu Delacre has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1980. The New York Times Bestselling artist was born and raised in Puerto Rico to Argentinean parents. Delacre says her Latino heritage and her life experiences inform her work. Her many titles include Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America, a Horn Book Fanfare Book in print for over 30 years. Her bilingual picture book ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el bosque nublado; Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest and her story collection Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos have received multiple starred reviews and awards. Among her latest works are the art of Turning Pages by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Luci Soars. Delacre has lectured internationally and served as a juror for the National Book Awards. She has exhibited at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, and the Zimmerli Art Museum among other venues. Reading is Fundamental honored her with a Champion of Children’s Literacy Award. For more visit her at www.luludelacre.com.

Reviews

[Amaris Castillo]

I really enjoy reading Veo, Veo, I See You to my 4-year-old. We have read it several times now before bed, and he loves the "I spy" aspect of the book. Also, we love that it's bilingual. It makes me happy to see his face light up when I read aloud the Spanish text. Thank you, Lulu, for writing this important story.

[Birdindihandio D’Anddabush · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable bilingual book about essential workers during the pandemic shutdown

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This clever book about how a child learns about essential workers from her mother during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The text is in speech bubbles of both English and Spanish. There is an afterward from the author about the pandemic and how it showed us very clearly what work is essential for us all.

This is a gorgeous book that may help my youngest students, who may not remember the Pandemic and being home most of the time, better understand. I remember folks in my neighborhood encouraging painted stones, windows, and doors to boost spirits in my community. It is a time that should be remembered and the people who are essential workers should be celebrated for their work always, not only during a crisis.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the publication of picture books about the COVID-19 pandemic slows down, this book reminds us of the early months of the pandemic when essential workers worked under tremendously difficult circumstances and were noticed by those staying at home. Playing with the idea of a "veo, veo" or "I see/I spy" game, this bilingual text serves as a powerful reminder of how the pandemic shed light on workers whose important labor is so often socially invisible.

While I found the majority of the book successful, I didn't quite understand why the Shutterstock-like photographs repeated in the "I see you" poster that Marisol made; it took away from the impact from her way of celebrating the workers.

[Gabriella Aldeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is muy necesario—essential. Written in English and Spanish, it's a tribute to those workers who we can't live without. Marisol plays the game of Veo, Veo/I spy and notices essential workers all around. Readers will learn what an essential worker is and will be inspired to take notice of how interconnected we all are. A perfect book for school and libraries, and a great conversation starter for discussions on the pandemic.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 2020, and the pandemic has hit. Marisol and her family are stuck at home. To pass the time, Marisol invents a game, a riff on I Spy, in which family members search the community for those whose work is essential. Written in English and Spanish, this book is a tribute to all the people who worked so hard to help us during a difficult time.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

I liked that this book highlighted the jobs that are necessary for the community. I also like the bilingual aspect because it is easy to understand the text based on context clues yet the two languages are integrated so nicely.
I do think the book might already be a bit dated.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, engaging story about recognizing and celebrating the work of essential workers during the early Covid-19 pandemic. Mostly in English with lots of Spanish mixed in.

Themes: Community Helpers/In the City, Pandemic
Age range: Preschool-Kindergarten

[Carlos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good art style and illustrations.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: covid pandemic, family, bilingual
Ages: 1-2nd grade
Pub year: 2023

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Y.Poston]

a remembrance of being shutdown during covid

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love letter to the essential workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I love how it focuses on the importance of the jobs, how they help the community, and that they deserve recognition. This theme is taught through a sweet bilingual story of Marisol and her family on a neighborhood walk. I loved the inclusion of dialogue bubbles and the collage illustrations were perfectly colorful and detailed. It also lends itself to a fun game of I Spy!