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Today, we're thrilled to share the cover to Danilo Was Here, a new middle grade novel written by Tamika Burgess (cover illustration by Noa Denmon) and published by Harper Collins. Here's the scoop on Danilo Was Here: From the acclaimed author of Sincerely Sicily, Tamika Burgess, comes a timely coming-of-age story about a young boy’s fight to save his family and his dreams in the aftermath of the US military invasion of Panamá. Perfect for fans of Janae Marks, Adrianna Cuevas, and Chrystal D. Giles! Danilo Osorio Jr.’s baseball skills were once the pride of his father and entire hometown of El Chorrillo, Panamá. But that was then, and this is now… Following 1989's Operation Just Cause, a US military invasion that left his neighborhood decimated, Danilo couldn’t care less about baseball or the father who abandoned him for opportunities in the States. Now Danilo’s focus is taking care of his mamá and sister and trying to save them all from needing to relocate to a refugee camp. When Danilo unintentionally catches the eye of a baseball recruiter and is offered the opportunity to visit and train in California—the same place as his father’s last known address—he is tasked with deciding to go or stay. But if playing baseball could help him find his father and secure the extra funds his family needs, Danilo is willing to travel anywhere, even to the very country responsible for destroying his home. Between his tough-as-nails baseball coach, ultracompetitive teammates, and overly enthusiastic host family, Danilo’s plans encounter some curveballs. And when his turn to bat finally comes, he’ll have to decide what and who he’s actually fighting for. And now, without further ado... check out this horgeous cover!   Cover Art by Ericka Lugo Today we celebrate the book birthday of Vega's Piece of the Sky. We sat down with Musa Jennifer Torres to learn about the inspiration behind this book.
Tell us a little bit about the book: The meteorite is just the latest thing to crash, uninvited, into Vega Lucero’s rest-stop hometown. But when she discovers how much a chunk of the space rock might be worth, she realizes it’s exactly the treasure she’s been hoping to find. And maybe a way to convince her mom not to sell the family store to big city developers to help pay for her grandpa’s medical expenses. Determined to find more pieces of the sky somewhere in the perilous desert wilderness, stubbornly independent Vega must set aside her distrust of outsiders to team up with Jasper, a would-be rival—and her own tagalong cousin Mila—on an overnight adventure to find more meteorites before the professional hunters who have descended on Date City do. But along the way, she realizes that she’s not the only one with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jasper and Mila have their own secrets and worries that have brought them on this journey. Together, this ragtag group will ultimately discover that no treasure is big enough to prevent unwelcome change. But family and friends can help weather the unexpected that life brings. Sounds great, doesn't it?  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Abuela's Library. We sat down with Musa Lisette Normal to learn about the inspiration behind this book.
Tell us a little bit about the book: Alfonso and Abuela love to spend Saturday afternoons finding books at the library and reading them together beneath their favorite oak tree. But when their beloved tree is cut down, can Alfonso transform the stump into something magical for their whole community—their very own neighborhood library? This uplifting story from award-winning poet Lissette Norman and illustrator Jayri Gómez shows us how to turn an unexpected setback into a happy ending: one with a beautiful sky-blue door and shelves filled with books for everyone to enjoy. What a moving story! Read more after the link...  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Daughter of the Light-Footed People. We sat down with Belen Medina to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about this non-fiction picture book biography:
Experience a sixty-mile run with Indigenous athlete Lorena Ramírez. She runs in the traditional clothes of the Rarámuri, “the light-footed people,” to show that her people and their way of life are alive and thriving—outpacing runners in modern, high-tech gear and capturing the world’s attention. Lorena’s career as an athlete is an inspiring real-life example of the power of perseverance that will encourage young readers to follow their own dreams.  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Into the Mighty Sea. We sat down with Arlene Abundis to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book:
Mariel’s family is a big POP of color! But when her tíos, tías, and cousins arrive for her hermanito’s birthday party, their many besos, noises, and colors start to feel overwhelming. As Mariel’s tears grow into an ocean, she paints a boat to stay afloat and dives into the mighty sea. When an island calls to her through the swells, she discovers sights, smells, and sounds on its shores that bring back memories of the people she loves the most to guide her back home. Beautifully illustrated and lyrically written, Into the Mighty Sea is about a girl with big emotions who learns that sometimes taking a step back can be exactly what you need.  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Abuelo's Flower Shop. We sat down with Jackie Morera to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book:
When Elena discovers the heartbreaking truth about the garden across the street, she learns how even the saddest places can be beautiful and how the flowers her abuelo sells help send an important message to those in need. Abuelo’s Flower Shop highlights the love between grandparents and grandchildren, especially as they navigate challenging conversations about loss and grief. |
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