When Diego hears Abuela preparing “por si las moscas,” in case of the flies, alarm bells go off in his mind and he preps his schoolmates for an epic attack of winged insects. Except. . . some phrases don’t translate literally. What follows is a zany adventure filled with tactical meetings at recess, combat training in gym class, and keeping watch from the highest point of the playground, with illustrations that incorporate English and Spanish, and enough silliness for readers to enjoy in whatever language they speak.
 Written by Jackie Morera and illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson.
Praise for In Case of las Moscas
“Both peppy and quirky, Ruiz Johnson’s bright artwork offers just the right amount of spark. Whimsical fun, infused with food for thought on language.” —Kirkus Reviews
 “Good-humored….a lively work in which linguistic confusion becomes an opportunity for cultural connection.” —Publishers Weekly

Bienvenida to Las Musas blog, Paola Santos. We are eager to hear about your new project, A House In My Barrio. 

Let's talk about this sweet book. What is A House In My Barrio about?
Mamá Elena always knows just what to do when someone needs help. Whether it’s by cooking a delicious meal or simply by lending an ear, she keeps her community together. And because of her warmth, her home is young Manuel’s favorite. But when Mamá Elena suffers a fall that leaves her bedridden, the barrio changes overnight. Missing Mamá Elena and her house, Manuel is determined to help lift her spirits. In a selfless act of organizing, he gathers his neighborhood so they can give back all the love and support Mamá Elena has shown them.

Wifredo's Jungle brings to light the life of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, who portrayed the enduring Afro-Cuban spirit culture through his art.
In a village on the tropical island of Cuba, a boy named Wifredo Lam loved to draw his surroundings—hot blue air, cool green leaves, and brilliant flowers.
As he grew older, Lam paid tribute to his Cuban, West African, and Chinese heritage through his art, which brought dignity and respect to Cuba's rich mix of cultures.
Inspired by and in contact with some of the most renowned artists of the early 20th century, such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and André Breton, Lam blended European cubism and surrealism with multicultural influences to create his own unique style, culminating in the creation of his masterpiece La Jungla (The Jungle).
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From Margarita Engle, a Newbery Honor Winner and a former Young People’s Poet Laureate, and Jacqueline Alcántara, a New York Times bestselling illustrator, Wifredo’s Jungle introduces young readers to the trailblazing life and work of Wifredo Lam.
Back matter includes: more information about the life of Lam and where to see his works; a glossary; and a bibliography.

Cynthia, welcome to this interview with Las Musas! We are eager to learn about your project. Tell us more! ​

Olga, welcome to this interview with Las Musas! We are eager to learn about your project. Tell us more! 
A Light For Lucinda is a lyrical picture book for ages 6-9 (Grades 1-4)
This book honors the human instinct to provide order and stability amid chaos and strife. It is a heartfelt, and uplifting story that shows the love and comfort a family brings to one another during a time of uncertainty and strife. 
The story is set during the Cuban Revolution but it is relatable to any reader.  It invites you to witness the uncertain feelings Lucinda and her family share, and leaves you with a resilient and hopeful comfort.

Join us as we welcome back Delia Ruiz to celebrate the birthday of another beautiful book! 

Delia, please tell us about Moon Chef:
Readers will follow along as Gaby fills her plate (and belly!) with foods that match the shape of the moon she sees in the sky. From a crescent plantain to a gibbous guava, the food shapes wax and wane as the month goes on, just like lunar phases. The book includes expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about lunar phases and fun STEAM activities.

Welcome to Las Musas Book blog Delia and congratulations on this gorgeous book. We are excited to have you here today. 

Let's start by talking about Ways Papi Says I Love You. 
When Papi, who is always busy working at el rancho, asks Maricruz to jump in the truck with him to go get groceries for Mami, she grabs the list and sprints! During the drive, they wave to the people in their community and enjoy quality time. Ways Papi Says I Love you / Las maneras en que papi dice te quiero is a book that shows all the love languages.

We are thrilled to welcome Maria José Fitzgerald as she celebrates her newest book, Mystery on Macaw Island.

Maria José, just looking at the delightful cover art makes us want to pick up this book! Tell us more about this project. 
Birds of a feather solve crime together in this exciting middle grade mystery! When eight endangered macaws are stolen from a bird sanctuary in the Mayan ruins of Copán, four
sleuthing cousins must find out who took them—and why.

Nico and his cousins don’t have much in common, but they’re all excited to visit the Mayan ruins at Copán and witness the release of the scarlet macaws. Nearly extinct in Honduras, eight of these majestic birds are about to be introduced to a brand-new bird sanctuary. But on the eve of the big day the birds are stolen!

Who could have planned this bewildering bird heist—and why? Nico and his cousins are determined to find out—and anyone could be a suspect: poachers, developers, Mama’s  annoying novio . . . The investigation will take them from bustling downtown Copán to the mist-shrouded ruins of Macaw Mountain, uniting the cousins as they unravel a plot far stranger than any of them could have imagined.

Today we celebrate the book birthday of Musa Marcia Argueta Mickelson's The Writing Room. We sat down with Marcia to learn more about this book.

Immediately after high school graduation, eighteen-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy
dad's NYC home; he prides himself on forcing his kids to "make their own way in the world". Maya's mom lives in Guatemala, so Maya crashes with friends while working and trying to land
freelance writing gigs.

Maya struggles to find her footing until she gets access to a writing room―a shared workspace where she can focus (and get to know the intriguing neighbor, Jake, who's often there).

When she discovers her dad is bankrolling a virulently anti-immigrant candidate for governor, Maya―the daughter of an immigrant―realizes she can’t continue quietly accepting his choices. She’ll have to take a stand, using the voice she's found in the writing room.

​Read more about this exciting YA novel after the link...