“Caregivers are essential workers.” A Meg Medina Q&A About No More Señora Mimí

It is nearly impossible to resist the lure of Meg Medina.

Consider the woman’s career. As far back as 2008 she releases a middle grade novel called Milagros: Girl From Away. She comes out with a picture book that to this day I adore more than most called Tia Isa Wants a Car. But the book that changes it all for her, without a doubt, is a the YA novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (out in graphic novel form last year!). After that comes out, people start really taking notice of Meg Medina. She does the occasional picture book and YA novel but it isn’t until Merci Suarez Changes Gears that it all comes together. The book wins the Newbery Award and in time Meg Medina is deemed our National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

But the thing about Meg Medina? Not content to rest on her laurels, this one. This year she has another picture book coming out called No More Señora Mimí. Sweet and sad and unique, Medina taps into that very real moment when a child realizes that they’re losing their beloved babysitter thanks to the arrival of a beloved grandmother. Bittersweet, it’s a lovely book deserving of an in-depth interview.

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Betsy Bird: Meg! So lovely getting a chance to pepper you with questions today! I think the best possible way to kick everything off is for me to simply come right out and ask where the story in No More Señora Mimí came from. It’s certainly not a storyline I’ve seen in a picture book before.

Meg Medina: Great to be with you, Betsy!

When I’m writing for very young readers, I like to sift back through my memories and focus on the events that have lingered.  It’s fascinating to see what our minds cling to and  unpack the reasons why. that might be so.

In the case of No More Señora Mimí, I began with the memory of my first babysitter who cared for me while my mom was at work. Her name was, in fact, Mimí, and she took care of me until the year that my grandparents finally arrived from Cuba. I took it upon my five-year-old self to inform Mimí that her services would no longer be needed.  The love and care she offered me shifted a bit, but it was never lost. Mimi and Abuela eventually became good friends, and Mimí remained a part of my family life. And for that, I am very grateful.

Betsy: So often when we think of childcare providers, we either think of family members or teenaged babysitters/preschools. Yet so many kids are taken care of by neighbors and other friends of families. When we talk about the people who raised us, we have no universally accepted term or day for such people. Why was it important to you to highlight these caregivers?

Meg: Caregivers are essential workers. In fact, they are part of the economic engine of this country.  Ask any parent of a young child, and they’ll tell you the critical need that exists for reliable child care. And if you  need further proof, consider what happened during the worst of the Covid epidemic.  Without quality caregivers, parents struggle to provide for their families.

I wanted to celebrate this essential work, and more, as a Latina, I wanted to honor work that, in this country, is mostly done mostly by Black and brown women, just like Señora Mimí. The story’s set-up, then, felt very authentic to the experience of Latine families.  In the story, Señora Mimí lives in the same building and has her own baby, too.  Both she and Ana’s mother are working moms. I wanted to shine a light there, especially since kids spend a significant amount of time with their caregivers. So much emotional and social learning goes on, especially with the very young.  And in the best cases, a strong bond develops.

Betsy: Some authors strictly limit themselves to mostly working in a specific age range and genre when it comes to their books. You, in contrast, seem adept at writing picture books one moment, then middle grade, nonfiction, and even YA the next. I believe one of your books has even been turned into a graphic novel. Do you find that there’s a particular kind of book you like to write the most, or does your enjoyment vary from project to project?

Meg: I like to write across every age.  I’d say that middle grade and picture book are very fulfilling at present, but that can change so easily. I like to see if I can write things that I haven’t tried before. That doesn’t mean I don’t kick myself the whole time I’m struggling with something that is new to me.  But the process of experimenting  keeps me discovering new ways to build story and new ways to make sense of growing up.

Betsy: In addition to writing, you also serve as the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. Have you found it more difficult to get your writing done, or is it not a particular concern?

Meg: Writing during the Ambassadorship was very difficult. When you’re serving in that role, the focus is on building the reading lives of the nation’s children, not on building your own career. You’re offering yourself in service and your writing becomes almost secondary.  So, during that time, I mostly did edits on No More Senora Mimí andfinished a draft of another picture book. The heaviest lift I had was a middle grade fantasy that will be published by Candlewick Press next summer.  Finding the quiet space for that was a challenge. 

Betsy: Your illustrator on this particular book is the hugely talented Brittany Cicchese. Not only is she an artist but she’s a working librarian with an MLIS degree! I’d seen her work on only one other book before this one, and really enjoyed what she brought to this manuscript (not least because Señora Mimí knows how to hold knitting needles properly). What was your take on the art for this book? What were your first impressions?

Meg: Brittany was nothing short of heroic, as the timeline was tight for a book that we had hoped to publish during my tenure as Ambassador.  I loved everything about her illustrations:  the autumnal palette, the emotion she could capture for both Señora Mimí and Ana, and the professional way she handled the directions and requests as she worked at lightning speed.  Add to that the fact that she’s a librarian, and I was over the moon.  I consider myself very lucky to have her work attached to my book. I suspect we’re going to see many more beautiful projects of her own very soon.

Betsy: Finally, what else do you have coming out next? What can we look forward to?

 Meg: Graciela in the Abyss, my middle grade fantasy, will be published in July 2025.  It’s a spooky adventure story set in the abyss. There’s a sea spirit of a girl drowned long ago, a living boy, and an enchanted harpoon that threatens the world and must be destroyed. As you can see, that is not my usual fare, but that’s creative restlessness for you.

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Doggone it. Why do I always ask them what they have coming out next? Now I want to read this one. Until I can, I thank Meg for taking the time to talk to me today. You can see the cover reveal of Graciela in the Abyss at PW here. I also thank Phoebe Kosman and the team at Candlewick Press. No More Señora Mimí is out September 3rd, so look for it in your favorite libraries and independent bookstores.

Filed under: Interviews