 Today we’re thrilled to reveal the cover for Paola Santos's debut picture book, How to Eat a Mango, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, which releases on July 16, 2024 from Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House. How to Eat a Mango will be released simultaneously in Spanish as Cómo comer un mango. About the book: Abuelita teaches Carmencita that you can’t rush mango-eating: it takes five steps to appreciate the gift and feel the love. Carmencita doesn’t want to help Abuelita pick mangoes; she doesn’t even like them! They’re messy, they get stuck in her teeth, and it’s a chore to throw out the rotten ones. But Abuelita adores mangoes, and patiently, she teaches Carmencita the right way to eat them. Together, they listen to the tree’s leaves, feel its branches and roots above and below, and smell and feel the sweet, smooth fruits. Each step is a meditation on everything Mamá Earth has given, and in the Earth’s love, Carmencita feels the love of her Mami, her Papi, her little brother Carlitos, and of course, Abuelita. When they finally bite in, the juice running down their arms, Carmencita understands. The mangoes are more than just mangoes… and she’s ready for another! Inspired by her own childhood in Venezuela, Paola Santos’s mango-sweet story is a grounding, life-affirming take on gratitude for nature’s gifts and connection with family and culture. Juliana Perdomo’s cheery artwork brings Carmencita, Abuelita, and their mango tree to life with all the warmth of golden fruit under the sun. From Paola: The first time I saw Juliana Perdomo’s illustrations, I was moved by the warmth and homely feeling of the colors she used to give life to Carmencita, Abuelita, and their world. It was like being home and bringing my memories to the page in the sweetest possible way. And not just the cover but every illustration is an invitation to soak in sunlight, nature, culture, and family. This book is truly inspired by the Venezuela that lives in my heart, and Juliana captured every aspect of it. My words are a meditative journey through the senses, and Juliana’s illustrations are the perfect complement. How to Eat a Mango (Cómo se come un mango) combines our feelings, and I hope the readers can relate and create their own.
Where to preorder: You can preorder How to Eat a Mango today wherever books are sold, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Penguin Random House.
You can also add How to Eat a Mango to your want-to-read list on Goodreads.  Cover by Artist Zarin Baksh and Designer Trisha Previte. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Sinner's Isle. We sat down with Musa Angela Montoya to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book: SINNER'S ISLE is a spellbinding YA romantic fantasy about a powerful witch who will do anything to escape the remote island she’s being held captive on, including blackmail a notorious, charming pirate who washes up on shore. |
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