The Interpreter - by Olivia Abtahi (Hardcover)

About the Book

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

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi; illustrated by Monica Arnaldo:

A 2026 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award (PADIBA) PB/GN Winner
A NCSS-CBC 2026 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
An ALSC 2026 Notable Children's Book (Younger Readers category)
A 2026 International Literacy Association (ILA) Notable Books for a Global Society Award Winner
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2026 Charlotte Huck Recommended Book
A 2026 Alma Flor Ada Book Award
A 2026 Américas Award Commended Title
A Bank Street Best Children's Books of 2026
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Evanston Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Booklist Editors' Choice, NPR, Kirkus, New York Public Library, Children's Book Review, Shelf Awareness

★ "Abtahi masterfully weaves an everyday tale that will be familiar to designated translators of all ages from immigrant families. . . . Arnaldo's bright watercolor and pencil-crayon artwork provides much-needed levity . . . Sensationally true to life."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Abtahi (Twin Flames), making a well-developed picture book debut ...[with] lively watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations from Arnaldo (The Museum of Very Bad Smells) show the strain of Cecilia's moving back and forth, until supportive changes help her become a kid who's happy to help, '...just not all the time.'"
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "With its emotionally resonant look at one aspect of immigrant family dynamics, this title is a solid purchase for picture book collections."
--School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Abtahi's story about circumstances of bilingual family life that sometimes force children into these adult roles is engagingly rendered in Arnaldo's colored pencil and watercolor drawings that both reflect the silliness of the situation and neatly show how overwhelmed Cecilia becomes...In addition to nicely balancing an important topic with lighthearted comedy, the book also offers a solution of teamwork that is both thoughtful and respectful to the entire family."
--Booklist, starred review

★ "A clever, straight-from-the-heart story . . . excellent."
--Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Stellar."
--BookPage

"Abtahi, who took inspiration from her own multilingual childhood, strikes an important balance...the necessity of interpreting for immigrant parents is not dismissed or shamed, while the pressure it can place on their children is addressed with empathy."
--The Horn Book

"Bright, colorful, and clever, this is one book we've been waiting for years to see. We just didn't know it yet."
--Betsy Bird, School Library Journal Fuse 8 Blog

Select praise for Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi:
2023 Texas Lone Star Reading List
2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
2022 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List
2021 New York Public Library Best Book
2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book

★ "A joyful celebration of the right to take up space in the world." --Booklist, starred review

★ "Truly delightful." --School Library Journal, starred review

Select praise for Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo:
Amazon Best Book of the Month & Editor's Pick
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023
Indigo Best Book of the Year
2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
2023 New York Public Library Best Book
2023 School Library Journal Best Book
Booklist Editor's Choice

★ "Deliciously goofy." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A memorable read-aloud choice." --Booklist, starred review

★ "Fun and entertaining." --School Library Journal, starred review

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.