Undocumented - by Duncan Tonatiuh (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book is in a two-sided accordion-fold format.

Book Synopsis

Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh's picture book is "a gorgeous, timely, and necessary offering about the daily plight of undocumented workers in the United States" (Library Journal).

Undocumented: A Worker's Fight is the story of immigrant workers who have come to the United States without papers. Every day, these men and women join the work force and contribute positively to society. The story is told via the ancient Mixtec codex, accordion-fold format.

Juan grew up in Mexico working in the fields to help provide for his family. Struggling for money, Juan crosses over into the United States and becomes an undocumented worker, living in a poor neighborhood, working hard to survive. Though he is able to get a job as a busboy at a restaurant, he is severely undercompensated--he receives less than half of the minimum wage! Risking his boss reporting him to the authorities for not having proper resident papers, Juan risks everything and stands up for himself and the rest of the community.

"Multiple Pura Belpré Medal and Honor-awarded Tonatiuh channels his interest in the Mixtec codex format to create a superb modern odyssey, stupendously illustrated in his signature contemporary adaptation of Pre-Columbian art forms, presented on accordion pages in a handsome slip-box." --Booklist (Starred Review)

Review Quotes

"...a gorgeous, timely, and necessary offering about the daily plight of undocumented workers in the United States."-- "Library Journal"

"Undocumented... is an all-too-real discussion about fair pay and the hostility U.S. citizens often display toward undocumented immigrants."-- "Shelf Awareness"

"By focusing on the narrative of one immigrant worker, Tonatiuh breaks the mammoth issues of immigration and workers rights into an easy-to-swallow bite, allowing the reader to easily engage with an often intimidating topic. The personal is again political. Highly recommended."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"From the beginning, the format of this book shows its uniqueness with the codex form used by Mixteco."-- "The News & Observer"

"Remarkable...The artwork is deliberately evocative of Mesoamerican logography, with figures and perspectives that feel at once bizarre and totally familiar."-- "Vulture"

"With its explicit political messages, this book is unique in the picture book canon."-- "NBC online"

STARRED REVIEW: "Multiple Pura Belpré Medal and Honor- awarded Tonatiuh (Diego Rivera, 2011) channels his interest in the Mixtec codex format to create a superb modern odyssey, stupendously illustrated in his signature contemporary adaptation of Pre-Columbian art forms, presented on accordion pages in a handsome slip-box."-- "Booklist"

About the Author

Duncan Tonatiuh is a Mexican American award-winning author and illustrator known for children's books that explore history, identity, and social justice. Born in Mexico City and raised in San Miguel de Allende, he later studied at Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College in New York City.

His distinctive illustration style, inspired by pre-Columbian art--particularly the Mixtec codices--gives his books a unique visual identity. His work often focuses on Latino heritage, immigration, and civil rights, helping young readers connect with history and see their own experiences reflected in stories.

Tonatiuh's books have received numerous honors, including the Pura Belpré Medal, the Robert F. Sibert Award, and multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book selections.