Jamie Hogan illustrated “The Circuit” by Francisco Jimenez recently for Cricket Magazine. The story, a memoir of Jimenez’ childhood as an immigrant from Mexico, working alongside his family in the fields of California, reminded Jamie of her own travels there in the 1990’s. 

“The power of his vivid writing pulled me in, and I saw those golden suede hills and felt the dusty heat all over again. His experience was hard, long days and always moving with the crops,” says Jamie. “For the opening illustration, I drew the family car, the Carcachita, an old Plymouth. They leave at dawn for the next job.”

When the picking season is over, Jimenez can go to school, where he meets a kind teacher, Mr. Lema, who introduces him to the trumpet. The sound gives him goose bumps, and he's eager to learn to play, but upon returning home finds the family's belongings all packed again.

“Francisco Jiminez went on to become a university professor and a writer for children. Illustrating this story gave me a chance to step inside that world, and get the same goose bumps,” Jamie tells us.  Here she is, below, on a dusty shortcut somewhere south of Paradise, California, circa 1990.