In this Author POV feature, we spotlight Yesenia Moises, illustrator and author of Sounds Like Joy, a vibrant picture book that follows a Black mermaid named Joy on an underwater musical adventure. When the tambourine suddenly stops playing, her ocean friends come together to guide her through an underwater world filled with music, movement, and wonder. Their shared adventure shows Joy that the feeling she is searching for can be found in community, creativity, and the beauty of exploring something new.
Filled with playful onomatopoeias and vivid illustrations, Sounds Like Joy is made for energetic read alouds that invite young readers and the adults reading with them to clap, splash, and tap along. Inspired by the overwhelmingly positive response to Moises' artwork featuring Black mermaids, the book celebrates joy in all its forms and highlights the power of seeing yourself in fantastical stories.
Perfect for ages 4 to 8 and a natural fit for mermaid enthusiasts of any age, this book brings together music, imagination, and inclusive representation in a warm and uplifting way.
Can you introduce your book for librarians who may be discovering it for the first time?
My book is Sounds Like Joy, and it's a story about a black mermaid who goes on an underwater musical adventure driven by a yearning to explore the feeling of joy. The story kicks off with our main character, Joy, who finds a tambourine that makes a sound unlike any she's ever heard. When it stops making the sound she loves, her friends band together to show her the wondrous tunes of the ocean blue. It's a celebration of music and its power to bring people together, with pages decorated in onomatopoeias that make it a fun read-aloud experience for both young readers and the adults reading to them.
What inspired you to write this book, and what core themes do you hope readers take away from it?
Sounds Like Joy was inspired by the online feedback I was receiving on my artwork on social media, but more specifically, towards a piece that I'd posted featuring a black mermaid. It became my most widely shared artwork, and when people reacted and engaged with it, the number one thing I noticed in people's comments, time and time again, was that it brought them joy. My career in publishing today wouldn't be possible without social media, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who's ever liked, commented, or shared one of my posts. Sounds Like Joy was my way of giving back to the community that's uplifted me and my work throughout the years.
I hope that readers walk away inspired to view the world around them in a new light and the power that's found in community. Joy is incredibly excited about this tambourine she's found and how much joy it's brought her, but it's really the shared experience of relishing in this tambourine's tune and the collective effort to create something new that shines a light on how a community uplifts their own. You can find joy all around you, even in the places you'd least expect.
What kind of readers or patrons do you see this book resonating with most? (age range, grade levels, reading interests)?
Sounds Like Joy is a picture book rated for ages 4-8, but can honestly be enjoyed up through middle school. It's for readers who want to see characters that look like them going on fantastical adventures and mermaid lovers who want to dive into something new!
If your book were part of a library display, what topics, themes, or comparable titles would you pair it with?
Boogie Boogie Y'all, Oona and the Shark,Tokyo Night Parade, as well as any musical or ocean-themed books.
Which formats are currently available? (Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, bilingual editions, large print, classroom sets, ISBNs, and whether bulk discounts or school pricing options exist.)
Sounds Like Joy is available in hardcover, eBook, and paperback Spanish editions, titled Suena a Alegría.
How could this book be used in community events or themed programming throughout the year? (For example: Earth Day, Black History Month, Pride, Hispanic Heritage Month, etc.)
Black History Month, Juneteenth, Summer reading challenges, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Do you offer author engagement options for schools or libraries? (Virtual visits, in-person events, Q&A sessions, etc.)
I am available for in-person and virtual events. My author visits typically consist of workshops and activities tailored to the community's needs.
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