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Today, we're thrilled to share the cover of Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and beautifully illustrated by Loris Lora. Here's the scoop on Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown: Like a seed / Frida sprouted / And burst through the earth where / the coyotl once foraged. Coyoacán was the place where Frida grew. 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 includes a labeled, illustrated guide to all the flowers and plants featured in the book, an author’s note, and an activity for kids to make their own flower crown! And now, check out this stunning cover!  Today, we're thrilled to share the cover of The Heron Princess (part of the Legendarios chapter book series) by Karla Arenas Valenti and beautifully illustrated by Vanessa Morales. Here's the scoop on The Heron Princess: It’s been a few months since 9 year-old twins, 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 a magical book of legends! And even better, this time the twins are joined by their abuela as they embark on a new Legendario adventure. The book of legends 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? An exciting new book with a cover to match!  Today, we're thrilled to share the cover to Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-For-Easter Shellabration, a new picture book written by Sara Andrea Fajardo with art by Rocio Arreola Mendoza. This spirited picture book will be released February 18, 2025, from Knopf. Here's the scoop on Crack Goes the Cascarón: Shellabrate a joyous Latine tradition, with Toti and his family in this upbeat story, hatched in time for Easter and other springtime festivities. What are cascarones? Cascarones are empty eggshells that have been decorated, filled with paper confetti and the like, then sealed back up. The fun is in cracking a cascaron on someone else’s cabeza (head)! Who will be the reigning cascarones champ in this eggciting story? 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 his, and Abuela doesn't even stand a chance—no way! When it’s time to crack the cascarones, will Toti reign supreme or will the day be scrambled when he learns somebody has switched his awesome cascarones for fake ones! Readers will laugh at the antics of Toti and his family and enjoy a cheeky twist at the end. Check out this colorful and exciting book cover!   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!  Today, we're thrilled to share the cover to Vampirita and the Angry Mob / Vampirita y la turba enfurecida, written by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Laura Brenlla, and published by Reycraft Books. Here's the scoop on Vampirita: Vampirita's life takes an unexpected turn when she swaps Lima, Peru, for Sunny City, California. Join her in this whimsical tale, navigating the challenges of fitting into a town that's a far cry from her eerie hometown. Will Vampirita's mischievous plan to bring spooky back succeed, or will she discover unexpected enchantment in the seemingly mundane? What you'll find in this book:
And now, check out this gorgeous cover!
Today, we're thrilled to reveal the cover to Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People, written and illustrated by Aixa Perez-Prado. This gorgeous picture book will be released on September 17, 2024 by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books. A little bit about the book: Written and illustrated by Aixa Pérez-Prado, this is the powerful biography of Argentinean folksinger and activist Mercedes Sosa. Affectionately known as 'La Negra,' Mercedes used her musical talents and powerful voice to speak out against poverty and inequality in her home country. In the face of a cruel dictatorship, Mercedes refused to be silenced. She bravely stepped on stage to lend a "voice to the voiceless" with uplifting songs of empathy and empowerment. Her unforgettable music and messages of hope continue to resonate with people across the world to this day. And now, check out this gorgeous cover!  Aixa says: This is the incredible story of Mercedes Sosa, the Argentine singer who became known as the "voice of the voiceless." Born to humble circumstances in Tucumán, Argentina, Mercedes discovered her extraordinary talent—a voice that soared! With her compelling contralto, she crooned anthems dedicated to indigenous and working people, lifting their hearts, and encouraging them to stand up for their rights. Through the power of her voice, Mercedes conveyed messages of fairness, freedom, and justice, inspiring resilience, resistance, and hope, even in the face of adversity. As an Argentine woman, I am extremely proud to be the author and illustrator of this book about Mercedes Sosa. Her songs were the soundtrack of my childhood and I'm excited to share the messages and the emotions in her music with young people everywhere. I actually started designing the cover image long before I became the illustrator of this book. While working on the text, I used to listen to her music and draw as I listened, inspired by Mercedes’ strength and presence. In this illustration, I incorporated the colors and textures of the Argentine landscape and the sun on the flag along with an image of Mercedes in her iconic poncho singing and playing the bombo. In Argentine culture, Mercedes is often associated with birds, and if you look carefully, you will find at least one bird in every image throughout the illustrations of this book and starting right here on the cover. The birds are meant to symbolize her soaring and powerful voice reaching through the clouds to inspire people everywhere. Written and illustrated by Aixa Perez-Prado, and published by Children’s Book Press, Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People will be out on September 17, 2024. Pre-order the English version of Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People today! Bookshop Barnes & Noble Amazon Pre-order the Spanish version of Mercedes Sosa: La Voz del Pueblo today! Bookshop Barnes & Noble Amazon  BIO
Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. You can learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com. Social media handles Instagram: @aixasdoodlesandbooks TikTok: @aixasdoodlesandbooks Facebook: @aixasdoodlesandbooks Today we're excited to reveal the cover to Nydia Armendia-Sánchez's debut NOT FAR FROM HERE! But first, a little bit about the book:
We worked and worked juntos, holding, shaping, and forging our sueños Nuestra familia . . . nos superamos as individuals and together Mamá tells her children a story that began when their papá was a niño, not far from here. Their abuelitas shared the skills and the stories of their antepasados, and their abuelo, a blacksmith, taught their papá how to make art from earth and fire. When abuelo died, papá took all those lessons to heart and crossed la frontera to el norte to follow his sueños. There, he worked and overcame barriers to forge his own obra maestra: a familia and a future in which anything is possible. NOT FAR FROM HERE is written by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth and releases October 1, 2024 from Candlewick Press Now get ready for the cover... We're so excited to reveal the cover for IN THE GROVES from debut author-illustrator Andrea Cruz Floren!
In the Groves is a whimsical Spanglish picture book about finding belonging in an unlikely place. Clara visits her abuelo and many, many cousins in California every year. And every year, her family tells tall tales about her abuelo’s orange groves: There’s magic! There’s mischief! There’s monstruos! But Clara’s never been to the orange groves. And she’s determined to change that. So when her cousins aren’t looking, Clara sneaks into her abuelo’s truck and makes her way to the orange groves. Once Abuelo spots her, he and Clara have a wondrous time serenading oranges, bravely defending the groves against gophers, and eating some delicious tacos with—WHEW—just a little bit of spice. Soon, Clara has magical tall tales to tell of her own. For she’s no longer just a visitor: She belongs to the groves, and the groves belong to her. And now...check out the gorgeous cover!!  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. Today we’re thrilled to reveal the cover for Lupita’s Hurricane Palomitas, written by Alexandra Alessandri and illustrated by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk, which releases on May 21, 2024 from Beaming Books.
A little about the book: Kindness can be shown during even the harshest of storms. Shutters rattled. Wind howled. As a ferocious hurricane descends upon her town, Lupita finds two baby birds who have fallen out of their nest and brings them inside to shelter them from the storm. While Lupita and her family wait out the tempest, she focuses on protecting the palomitas to alleviate her own fears and hopes she can soon reunite them with their mother. Perfect for families living in hurricane-prone states or with children who have storm-related anxieties, Lupita's Hurricane Palomitas offers a gentle, soothing story about extending a hand of kindness to others even while facing fears of our own. The book includes Spanish-language vocabulary words and a glossary in the back. |
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