Caldecott Medal Winner
Song of the Swallows
by Leo Politi
Summary
A boy named Juan befriends the old gardener Julian at Mission San Juan Capistrano and learns about the swallows that return to the mission every spring. Politi paints gentle, warm scenes of the California mission and its gardens, and he weaves in a song with music printed in the book. The story celebrates a real seasonal wonder and honors the Mexican American heritage of Southern California.
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Historical Context & Significance
Leo Politi drew on his deep love of Los Angeles neighborhoods and Mexican American culture, themes that ran through much of his picture book work.