Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx/La juez que creció en el Bronx By Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez (2009) – hardcover
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx is an illustrated biography of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latin American Supreme Court Justice. We love that it is also bilingual, with English and Spanish text. The story begins from her very humble beginnings living with her mom and brother in a public housing project in the South Bronx, New York. Although they couldn’t afford much, her mother was determined to work harder so that her children would have a brighter future. Sotomayor’s Puerto Rican roots are wonderfully highlighted. And the story touches on her diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at age eight.
There are many relatable moments from her life, from daydreaming through children’s books to feeling out of place at Princeton as a brown woman from the housing projects. Sotomayor’s extraordinary journey to success serves as the perfect inspirational story for young aspiring minds.
Take-away message: The recipe for success is a mother’s love and support combined with your tenacity and hard work.
TAGS: bilingual, Puerto Rican, Latinx, female lead, family, notable POC, Sonia Sotomayor, hardcover
