I finally had a chance to read this book to my daughter and we both loved it. I loved seeing Xiamora use her imagination with her father every night as she bonded with him over braided hair. This book reinforces the importance of positive father/daughter relationships and the meaning of strength in the family.

A sweet story of how a father’s expression of love teaches his daughter to trust herself to be able to tackle any challenge thrown her way.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Only a Trenza Away by Nadine Fonseca.
Only a Trenza Away is the story of a girl and her father. As he braids her hair each night, he imparts wisdom, strength and love. A beautiful story showing how teaching our children is more than just words.

This was so sweet and endearing! I loved this story of a father and daughter and keeping this amazing connection to their cultures. We need more stories about fathers like this. It’s so important to showcase that sort of responsibility,

Xiomara loves having her father braid her hair each night before bed. Not only does he braid her hair, but he tells her stories where her braids (trends) play a key role as jump ropes, jungle vines, or tightropes. But when he doesn't make it home in time to get her braids done, Xiomara feels a bit lost without him. Without her father's assistance, her confidence in facing adventures wavers. When her father arrives the next night, she runs to him in tears with her brush stuck in her hair. He offers her the reassurance and tender care that she needs to bolster her confidence as he reminds that someday she will be able to braid her own hair. A tender story of the love between a father and daughter, and the joys to be found in sharing stories. The symbolism to be found in each strand of the braid is used to remind Xiomara of the love she carries within herself. The use of something tangible to remind Xiomara of her heritage and how much she's loved helps remind her of the support she has as she faces life's adventures. The bright, colorful, and imaginative illustrations are eye-catching and appealing. The inspiration for the story and a brief history of braiding is included in the author's note at the end of the story. An inspiring, sweet story that could very well be the beginning of a family tradition in reading together and/or braiding hair.

A swert story of a daddy/daughter relafionship. Every night he braids her hair and tells her a story but overall is trying to teach her to be brave, patient, etc. one night dad has to work late (and mom can't help?) and she feels lost without him. The next day he tells how each section of her trenza will cover strength and it makes everything alright.

I loved the pictures and its nice to read a story about a dad and daughter. I wish the 'fairytale' stories were longer than a line or two. Makes the storytelling a bit weak. Also, bummed the mom was given a 'helpless' role and unable to help her daughter when she needed it. Overall, a cute story but needs some parental explanations for children to fully understand the messages.

Trenza (or braids in Spanish) time is Xiomara and her Papa calls hair brushing time.

Papa took Xiomara on a trip to the Jungle, the moon, and the waterslide before bedtime. This was the beginning of hair time for Xiomara. She and her Papa take many adventures together after hair time. The Trenza plays a major part in the adventure. The braids became a tool to swing through the jungle. Moreover, they had amazing adventures and as a result Xiomara was very brave. Papa every evening, brushes and braids Xiomara’s. One evening, Papa did not come home from work, who will brush hair? What about the adventures?

Thank you Nadine Fonseca, Camila Carrossine, and Shadow Mounting Publisher, NetGalley for the privilege of reading and giving an honest review.

This book is so tender! I love the relationship between the father and daughter. We need more books like this one in the world. Well done!

Sweet story of a father’s love. I love that this book focuses on the relationship between a father and his young daughter. Xiomara and Papa have a special bedtime routine of him braiding her hair. While he braids, they visit places in their imaginations through the stories he tells. In the process she learns to be brave, patient, focused, curious, and ambitious. The message is even when you’re on your own, you’re never alone. The three parts of the braid remind her of people who love her, who need her love, and to love herself. The Author’s Note suggests a family can braid bracelets to wear as a reminder that they’re not alone. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for a copy to use for my review.

I love how imaginative this book is. The art is beautiful and colorful.
I love that this book has to do with a father/daughter relationship as he teaches his daughter about love and the strength of love.

My *only* complaint is that when my children are so excited to read this book when they were supposed to be in bed 10 minutes ago, this is more wordy than other choices they could have made. :D

In a Nutshell: Such a sweet story about a father-daughter bond being strengthened by their trenza time. Loved this debut work!

Xiomara is a little girl who eagerly awaits her father’s return from office every evening. After all, that’s their special together time, when Papa braids her hair and tells her amazing stories woven around her braid (trenza.) One evening, when Papa gets stuck until late in office, Xiomara and her hair suffer the consequences of not having the nightly trenza time. But on his return, Papa makes her understand the significance of her trenza, how it is connected to her confidence, and reminds her that he is ‘only a trenza away.’

‘Trenza’ is Spanish for ‘braid.’ Who could imagine that an entire story would be woven around braids! And such a lovely one at that! Father-daughter bonds are the strongest, and hence such picture books celebrating this loving relationship are a treat to me.

I adored how braids form a substantial part of the narrative in this picture book through the textual content, the message, as well as the illustrations. What I liked even more is how her father played the main role during trenza time. It’s not like Xiomara didn’t have a mother – she does. But trenza time is daddy time, and no one can take Papa’s place. I adored this creative choice of depicting a father skilfully handling what is traditionally considered a mother’s job in parenting.

I would have been happy just to see this loving daddy-daughter bond on the page. But the book goes a step beyond and incorporates an amazing life lesson as well, which too comes *tied* to the trenza. Xiomara’s braided hair is interlinked by her dad to being brave, self-confident, and self-sufficient. He also connects the trenza’s interwoven strength with her own family’s steady support.

The final note by the author is worth a read, as she details the history of the trenza and her own Latinx family’s trenza time.

The illustrations are the icing on the cake of this lovely book. The illustrations elevate a great book to an outstanding level. Every page has Xiomara’s trenza playing an important role. The colours are bright and vivid, and the sketches are full of hidden detailing that children would love to pore over.

Definitely recommended. This would serve as a lovely bedtime read as well as a book for provoking cultural discussions in the classroom. The language and content make the book suitable for ages 3-8.

4.5 stars.

My thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Only a Trenza Away”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Beautiful. The images were perfect for this story and the history meaningful. I adore a good kids book and this one is awesome in it's focus on a father and daughter relationship whereas most stories focus on mother and daughter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this as an early copy.

I absolutely loved the art-style! This was a very sweet and lovely story about trust. I would love to gift this to children and I think it would be a wonderful addition to libraries and schools.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review; all opinions are my own.

This children's book is delightful!

I didn't know what "trenza" meant until reading the story—it incorporates a few Spanish words within the English text.

The themes are love, family, strength, and being there for others. I love to see the relationships of kids with their parents in such a positive light. Love pours off the page.

The book also includes background information about the tradition of braiding hair.

I want a physical copy on my shelves! And I highly recommend this book.

Happy reading!

A beautifully illustrated story of a young girl who learns that she’s never alone as long as she thinks of her trenza (braid) to remind her of the people who love her, belief in herself and helping others is important. I love how her father helps her feel more confident as she moves into being more independent.

I received an electronic ARC from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley.
Readers meet a young girl who waits eagerly every evening for her Papa to get home. He will braid her hair as he shares about adventures the two will go on. The love and support shine through. One evening, Papa has to work late and for unknown reasons, her mama cannot braid her hair. She feels lost and unable to take care of her hair or be brave. The story finishes with Papa again braiding her hair and talking about the future when she will be strong and courageous enough to set forth on adventures on her own. Lovely message of encouragement and family support. The soft focus of the artwork around the characters is soothing and helps readers visualize the adventures. Terrific book for families to read together.

Papa says, “There will be adventures, like going to your new school, when you’ll need to be brave, patient, focused, and curious. And while you might be on your own, you’ll never be alone, mi’ja.

This is a picture story of a girl Xia who while having her strands woven into braids by her father went on an imaginative adventure where they go in jungle, played duel and jump ropes. But her father via these stories made her prepare for the time when he'll not be there.

This is an amazing work for all the girl children who knew how much it meant to be having their father around.

As a second-grade teacher, I'm always looking for new picture books to share with my class. Only A Trenza Away is such a wonderful book that can be shared with children in school, and especially at home. It is a book that brings generations together. This story shows the sweet relationship between a daughter and her father who braids her hair every night before bed. While braiding her hair he tells her stories that take Xiomara on adventures to places she's never been.

Another thing wonderful about this book is what Xia's father tells her as he braids her hair into sections. He reminds her of the people who love her deeply, the many people who will need her love, and also to remember to love yourself exactly as you are now and who you hope to be. What super messages to share with children. Love is a universal language that all will be able to understand. This heart-warming book needs to be shared with families in all cultures.

Using the metaphor of a braid, or trenza, as a reminder of love for self and others, the picture book Only a Trenza Away: A Tale of Trust and Strength by Nadine Fonseca and illustrated by Camilla Carrossine (Shadow Mountain, August 2023) gives a tender lesson between a father and a daughter, emphasizing the importance of inner strength. In the story, Xiomara discovers her own courage, resilience, and patience through the nightly ritual of her father braiding her hair and creating adventures. However, when he cannot braid her hair one night, Xiomara learns she needs to find strength within herself as she prepares for a new adventure at a new school.

In the story, Xiomara’s father teaches her the meaning of the three sections of braid: one section to remind her of those who love her, one section to remind her of those she loves, and the final section to remind her to love herself now and as she hopes to be in the future. Then, as she faces the idea of going to her new school, Xiomara sees her braid and remembers how her father’s love is just a “trenza” away.

The vivid illustrations bursting with bright, swirling colors reflect Xiomara’s confidence and hope. Further, sprinkled throughout the book are a handful of Spanish words, adding a unique cultural touch to the father-daughter duo.

I felt a little unclear as I read as to whether the father tells adventurous stories during the hair braiding session or if Xiomara alone imagines the adventures. In the end, it does not matter, because Xiomara realizes that the braids and the cherished time spent with her father provide her with her strength. Ultimately, she learns the powerful lesson that love accompanies her always, just a braid away.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweet Children's book about the love between a father and his daughter. I loved seeing the Hispanic culture represented in small ways, but it also allows readers of any nationality to connect to it. It would be a great book for someone of any age.