 Join us in congratulating Sandra Proudman for the birthday of her book Salvación. We sat down with Sandra to learn more about her beautiful book! Sandra, welcome to this Las Musas blog interview. Please tell us about this project.
In this Latinx YA fantasy debut inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains ... if she doesn’t fall in love with a boy in his company first.
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 Today we celebrate the book birthday of Musa Jackie Morera's wonderful new book, Together We Remember, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación. We sat down with Jackie to learn more about this book.
Together We Remember is a fiction picture book about imagination, the power of memories, and the “why” behind daydreaming. It follows a girl and her father as they embark on an imagination adventure that includes rainforest hikes, intergalactic planet-hopping, and most of all, remembering Mami through her favorite activity—creating stories and memories together. “An imaginative journey through grief, love, and the promise of adventures yet to come.” —Kirkus Reviews “In Morera and Encarnación’s wistful bilingual story, imagination-fueled play helps ‘chase the blues away’ for a father and child…loving work about a family’s bond.” —Publishers Weekly Read more after the link...  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Welcome Home, Esmerelda / Bienvenida a casa, Esmerelda (out in both English and Spanish!) by Musa Daniela Ramirez and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga. We sat down with Daniela to learn more about this book.
Papa's job in the military has taken Esmerelda and her family all over the world—and yet she's never lived in the United States. Now she and her family are moving to San Antonio, Texas. Although many of her extended family members live there, Esmerelda is unsure it'll feel like home. Even more, she's unsure she will fit in. Gradually, music and her sweet abuela spark bravery and the realization that home is not always a place—it's familia. Heartwarming and hopeful, Welcome Home, Esmerelda will provide reassurance to any kid that while moving and change are difficult, you have the support of loved ones to help you through it. Learn more about this heart-warming book after the link...  Help us celebrate the book birthday of Musa Eliza Kinkz's delightful new book, ¡MISTACO! We sat down with Eliza to learn more about this book.
After an awful day at school, Izzy wants to be left alone. But it’s Friday, and that means making tortillas with Lito. As the mistakes pile up, they come tumbling out of Izzy—and Lito surprises her by saying everyone makes mistakes, and if she makes a tortilla out of her mistakes, he will EAT it. Suddenly, the whole family is confessing and getting mistakes off their chests with a feast of mistacos! What a clever plot! Read more after the link...  Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown Let's celebrate the birthday of a delightful book by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez. Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown is out in the world now, and we have special details about the author and the book for you!
Nydia, what a stunning cover! Tell us about this beautiful book. Told through the language and imagery of the native Mexican flowers and plants comes the life of acclaimed and beloved artist Frida Kahlo. Like a flower, Frida blossomed, wilted, was crushed, survived, and thrived, growing into one of the most celebrated Indigenous painters. This poetic and empowering picture book, written by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor awardee Loris Lora, features the very flora Frida grew in her garden, bought at the market in her hometown, painted in her famous portraits, and wore proudly in a crown around her head. Back matter will include a labeled, illustrated guide to all the flowers and plants featured, an author’s note, and an activity for kids to make their own flower crown!  Today we celebrate the book birthday of The Heron Princess written by Musa Karla Arenas Valenti and illustrated by Vanessa Morales. This is the 4th book in the "Legendarios" chapter book series. We sat down with Karla to learn more about this exciting story!
Tell us about this latest installment in the series. It’s been a few months since Emma and Martín moved to Chicago. When they first arrived, their family thought outgoing Emma would adjust quickly and shy Martín might have a harder time making friends. But surprisingly, Martín is fitting in just fine, while Emma wants to go back to Mexico more than anything. She might not be able to go back to their previous home, but she can visit Mexico in the book of legends! And even better, this time the twins are joined by their abuela on the adventure. The book brings them into the story of Princess Hapunda and Lake Pátzcuaro. When an enemy tribe demands that Hapunda’s father hand her over to them, she faces a difficult choice: go with their enemies or refuse and risk her people’s safety. Can the twins find a way to help the princess out of the tricky situation, or is this a tale without a happy ending? That definitely sounds intriguing! Click the link below to see how teachers and educators can use "Legendarios" in a classroom setting.  Today we are delighted to celebrate the book birthday of I AM, YO SOY with author Gabriela Orozco Belt.
With lyrical text in English and Spanish, this vibrant picture book is a celebration of Hispanic American identity—showcasing the beauty of being part of two cultures. Author Gabriela Orozco Belt and Pura Belpré Award Honor Book illustrator Mirelle Ortega honor all the big and small ways that embracing both heritages are the key to being exactly who you’re meant to be. We sat down with Gabriela to learn a bit more about this beautiful book. Details after the jump!  Illustrated by: Rocío Arreola Mendoza Join us in congratulating Sara Andrea Fajardo for the birthday of her book Crack Goes the Cascarón/La Explosión del Cascarón. We sat down with Sara to learn more about her beautiful book!
Sara, tell us about Crack Goes the Cascarón. The hunt is on to figure out who will be the reigning champ of Cascarones, and Toti knows that he has his family beat. His parents are too easy, they make old-school cascarones with confetti inside. His sister, Carlita wishes she could create cascarones like him, and his Abuela doesn’t even stand a chance. When the day of Cascarones arrives, will Toti seize his moment or will it be scrambled when he learns someone has switched his cascarones for fake ones!  When we heard about this book, we could not wait to sit with Jacqueline Alcántara to congratulate her and get more details about the project. Grab your cafecito and join us as we learn more about Tíos and Primos.
Jacqueline, tell us about Tíos and Primos : A little girl meets more relatives than she can count—but how will she communicate with them if she can’t speak their language? It’s a little girl’s first trip to her papa’s homeland and she’s wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds—and especially by the size of her enormous family! But she only knows a little Spanish, and it’s hard not to be able to share jokes and stories. Fortunately, her relatives help her see that there are other ways they can connect—by sharing the love of delicious food, for example, or by enjoying a good soccer game—and soon she feels like she’s right where she belongs: in the heart of a loving family, learning as she goes along.  The cover design by Jenna Stempel-Lobell; artist is Cesar St. Martin. Today we celebrate the book birthday of These Vengeful Wishes by Musa Vanessa Montalban. We sat down with Vanessa to learn more about this book.
Tell us a bit aboutThese Vengeful Wishes: In this YA fantasy horror, a teen girl moves to a small Florida town plagued by a vengeful spirit of the woods. The girl uncovers a wishing well that grants her deepest desires but at a cost. As her wishes bring out the worst in her and she begins to unravel a deadly town secret, the girl wonders who’s the real villain in this story and can she truly trust the creature who destroys wicked men. Wow! Sounds so intriguing. Want to learn more? |
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