Grandpa and the Gift of Memory
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What Lolo Wants was written by Cristina Oxtra and illustrated by Jamie Bauza. It’s a finalist for the Children Literature Award at the 2025 Minnesota Book Awards.
Book Review: What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra, illustrated by Jamie Bauza. (Kids Can Press, 2024)
Their nightly ritual is to sit at Lolo’s desk, and they draw together. Drawing is Lolo’s expertise and Maria wants to be just as good. The story tugs at the heart when Maria notices something change in her Lolo -- he started to forget. Their drawing dates were halted. Then he could not find the words to express what he wanted.
What Lolo Wants is Cristina Oxtra’s debut picture book, written when she was a student at Hamline University (Minnesota), Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
Minnesota-based Cristina Oxtra is the author of What Lolo Wants and many books for young readers. She hopes the book becomes a conversation starter when there is illness in the family. (Photo courtesy of Cristina Oxtra)
She says, “When I started in the program in 2017, my advisor asked me to write from my own experiences to help me find my voice. I resisted and struggled because I wanted to write epic, elaborate works of fiction with fantastical characters. Digging within me was scary. But, every semester, little by little, I worked at overcoming my fear and hesitation. Then just before my last semester, something clicked, and I found within me a story that I didn’t realize my heart had been wanting to write. Out flowed What Lolo Wants, which I presented as part of my creative thesis.”
The story was inspired by her maternal grandfather, Lolo G. Growing up in a multigenerational household made them close, and he taught her some basics of drawing. He also said she would one day go to the United States and can pursue her dreams. When he became ill and started forgetting things, it was heartbreaking. As a child, she felt powerless and just wanted him to get better. Sadly, he passed away before her parents and she immigrated to the U.S.
“I also dedicated the book to my maternal grandmother who bought me children’s magazines that fueled my love of reading and writing. When I was a child, she said I would be a journalist one day since I loved to write and talk. She was right. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism and worked as a journalist for a few years.”
Cristina Oxtra dedicates What Lolo Wants to her maternal grandparents saying, “It’s also my way of honoring and thanking them for believing in me and nurturing my interests from an early age.” (Photo courtesy of Cristina Oxtra)
What Lolo Wants is a symbol of her grandparents’ hopes and dreams for her. It’s also her way of honoring and thanking them for believing in her and nurturing her interests from an early age. “Their memory lives on in the pages of the book and each time the story is read,” adds Cristina.
If you look closely at how Lolo is depicted, there is a familiarity, a resemblance to our own fathers or grandfathers: the thinning salt-and-pepper hair, their casual white t-shirt, plaid shorts, and slippers, and the biggest smile when they see their grandchildren. This is artist Jamie Bauza’s magic touch in the characters that she creates.
Jamie is an award-winning illustrator and designer based in the Philippines. She has illustrated and authored many books for young readers. She attended the Summer Illustration Residency at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Philippines-based Jamie Bauza is the illustrator of What Lolo Wants. She says, “The entire book process (from sketches to final art) took about a year, but the actual painting and rendering was completed in three months.” (Photo courtesy of Jamie Bauza)
“When I first read the manuscript, I immediately wanted to draw Maria's art shown beside Lolo's art. I decided to draw Lolo's art as very neat, almost realistic black- and-white pencil sketches to show a more traditional approach, while Maria's drawings are more fantastical and loosely rendered. Placing them in a spread shows how well they get along despite their age gap. I followed this up with a few more spreads showing Maria immersed in Lolo's drawings, because it's like they have their own little world together,” describes Jamie.
Illustrator Jamie Bauza says, “I used a mix of watercolors, pencils, markers, gouache, and crayons. I like the textures and layers that come from working with mixed media. After I scanned the paintings, I did some minor editing on Photoshop.” (Photo courtesy of Jamie Bauza)
Like author Cristina, Jamie dedicates the book to her grandparents, saying, “My Lolo and Lola were both supportive of me and my art. They would always compliment me and show off my books to our relatives, which made me feel nice. I'm relieved my family never discouraged me from working as an artist even though it can be hard sometimes. They made me believe that as long as you keep trying and working hard, you can do anything!”
Jamie encourages making art to strengthen family connections. “I think art is a great way to bond with your family because there is no right or wrong way to do it! Even if you are a group of beginners, you can just have fun with it. See how different materials work for you, see how your different art styles look together. I think if you remove the pressure of making something "perfect" or "accurate", art can be fun for anyone. Don't be afraid to get messy!”
What Lolo Wants is set in the Philippines and is sprinkled with Tagalog words. Cristina explains, “When I was growing up, I didn’t see myself in the books in my school or in libraries. So, today, I write stories that feature diverse characters, especially Filipino main characters. I want young Filipinos to see themselves in the books on the shelves. I want to show them that they can be the lead in the show, the star, the main character of the book. Not only the sidekick or comic relief.”
Cristina wants them to know that their culture, language, stories, and life experiences matter. They should be proud of who they are, and they should tell their stories in whatever creative medium they choose, Cristina asserts.
“I also want to share my experiences and stories with those who may not be familiar with the Philippines or Filipino culture. Through storytelling, we can educate others, break down barriers, debunk myths and stereotypes, celebrate each other, and develop a better understanding of one another.
The book launch included readings, signings, and the full support of Cristina Oxtra’s author friends. (Photo courtesy of Cristina Oxtra)
“It’s so heartwarming to hear about a Filipino author’s new book being published, reading news about the Filipino International Book Festival in California, or meeting a fellow Filipino author. There are certainly more today than there were when I was growing up, and I’m so thankful.”
All of this is fantastic, she beams. “But we can’t just sit back now. We still need to see more books by Filipino authors prominently displayed on the shelves at the big-name bookstores, in school libraries and classrooms, and part of curriculums. I would love to see a children’s book by a Filipino author turned into a movie.
“In addition, in these challenging times of book bans and threats against literacy and education, now more than ever, we must speak up for one another and for all diverse creators. We must advocate for libraries, librarians, educators, and schools. We must team up to fight for our rights to write what we want and defend the rights of everyone, especially our children, to have the freedom to choose what they want to read. Authors of books for young readers often end their stories with hope. We must continue to do the work needed and be that beacon of hope for our children,” Cristina says fervidly.
She hopes her book What Lolo Wants can help families talk to their children about a family member’s illness, especially a grandparent’s, no matter what the illness may be.
She hopes her book What Lolo Wants can help families talk to their children about a family member’s illness, especially a grandparent’s, no matter what the illness may be. Talking about it will be difficult and painful, but she believes children appreciate honesty, along with support to help them understand and cope.
“They will have questions, and they deserve answers. They are smarter and stronger than many of us think. I also hope my book encourages readers to learn more about the Philippines and read stories written by Filipino authors and that it inspires other Filipinos to share their stories as well,” concludes Cristina.
Claire Mercado-Obias is a writer, food stylist and pastry chef based in New Jersey.
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