​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...

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!

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.

​Today, we are celebrating the book birthday of On the Wings of la Noche by Musa Vanessa Torres. We sat down with Vanessa to learn more about this book.

In her human form, Noche is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes. At night, she is a Lechuza—an ethereal jet-black owl that guides
the dead to the after—who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante’s soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go . . .

That’s when a new kid comes to town, Jax, another science nerd like Noche. They connect in a way she can’t ignore, seemingly pulled together by an invisible thread. For the first time, Noche begins to imagine a life without Dante. As Noche’s heart begins to beat for two people, her guilt flares. Then, she finds herself at risk of losing both Jax and Dante, and Noche is forced to question her purpose as a Lechuza and everything she has ever believed in.

Learn more after the break!

Today, we are celebrating the book birthday of Danilo Was Here by Musa Tamika Burgess! We sat down with Tamika to learn more about this book.

Tell us about Danilo Was Here: Danilo Was Here is 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. 

What an important story to share with readers!

Join us in celebrating the book birthday of Bodega Cats: Just Kitten Around by Hilda Burgos! Read on to enjoy our conversation with Hilda about her new project. 

Hilda, please tell us a little about Bodega Cats
Bodega Cats: Just Kitten Around is an illustrated middle grade story written in alternating points of view—ten-year-old Yesenia and her newly adopted kitten, Candy. Everyone thinks Yesenia has it all under control, but she’s struggling to keep up with her three perfect overachieving older sisters. When one bad grade threatens to expose just how stressed she’s been lately, Yesi will lean on her kitten for comfort. But all Candy can think about is adventure. When Candy escapes and gets lost in New York City, she realizes maybe the big open world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Can Yesenia and Candy help each other find a way out of feeling so lost?​