WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK Professor Raquel Otheguy, who introduced Emma and Adam to one another many years ago, and who has provided incomparable love and support for both of us, and to our spouses and families. Raquel also provided a beautiful description of the Cuban National Archives and the people there. (We used some of her account verbatim!)
We are deeply grateful to Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, who read this book with a focus on Yoruba culture. Olugbemisola was a member of the Unicorn Rescue Society long before a single book in this series was published; we think of her as Uchenna’s cool aunt who makes sure her niece is up to date on all the latest music.
David Bowles, another longtime member of the Unicorn Rescue Society, workshopped the end of this novel with Adam one morning, sitting on a bench in Brooklyn. The intertwining of the voices from different cultures—calling forth the Madre de aguas—was his brilliant suggestion.
Professor Anasa Hicks, Emma’s longtime friend and scholar of Cuba, read the manuscript at a critical moment and offered her advice as she always does: directly, wisely, and caringly. Public historian Dominique Jean-Louis weighed in on the finer points of talking to children about difficult topics in history, a subject that has interested Dominique and Emma for many years, and Emma would like to thank her for her friendship, wisdom, and good cheer.
Adam would also like to extend his deep and enduring gratitude to Emma. Your thoughtfulness, care, and insights about children, literature, and Cuban-American culture have made this project richer and more beautiful than anything I could have imagined. It’s also been a wonder to know you through your early writing career and PhD, to now, when I am honored and humbled to call you my collaborator—as well as my friend.
Additionally, Emma would like to thank her big Cuban family for their unwavering support and steady flow of good chismes, as well as her community of scholars and historians for their opinions, fact checks, and great conversations about identity and history.