Today we celebrate the book birthday of MARIA MARIPOSA, by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Ana Ramírez González. We sat down with Musa Karla Arenas Valenti to learn more about the inspiration behind this book.
María Mariposa is a story about finding confidence, embracing identity, and recognizing that your unique self is more than enough. A gift from Mexico alights on María Mariposa’s windowsill on her first day of school in a brand-new country: “¡Una mariposa!” she says. With the butterfly, in comes Mexico magic. Filled from her toes to her new butterfly wings with memories of home, María knows exactly who she is and draws on her heritage to give her the courage needed for this very big "first". But when everything at school is different and strange, doubt chips away at María’s confidence. The place she comes from, the community she loves, the magic inside her...does any of it really belong in her new life in the United States? With courage and compassion, this picture book confronts the most difficult moments—and feelings—of being new, sweeping listeners up in a powerful celebration of the magic we each contribute to the world. Read more after the jump...
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Today we celebrate the book birthday of How to Eat a Mango / Cómo see come un
mango by Paola Santos, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo. We sat down with Paola to learn about the inspiration behind this book. Tell us a little bit about the book: 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. 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! That sounds so sweet! Read more after the link... Today we celebrate the book birthday of I Am La Chiva!: The Colorful Bus of The Andes. We sat down with Musa Karol Hernandez to learn about the inspiration behind this book.
Tell us a little bit about the book: I Am La Chiva!: The Colorful Bus of The Andes, takes readers through a day in the life of a hardy and colorful chiva bus in the rugged Andes Mountains of Colombia. This picture book is about community, teamwork, and love for one's land and people, is told in Spanglish verse from the point of view of the chiva bus. The stunning illustrations by Lorena Alvarez Gomez will delight readers with rich details and colors. A glossary of the Spanish words used in the story is included in the back matter. A Spanish version of the book will be released on August 27, 2024! I can't take my eyes off those gorgeous covers! Let's learn more... Today we celebrate the book birthday of Gloriana Presente, A First Day Of School Story. We sat down with Alyssa Reynoso-Morris to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about this picture book:
On the first day of elementary school, Abuela soothes Gloriana’s nerves by telling her stories from their family home in la República Dominicana. But as soon as Gloriana enters the classroom, the tropical scenery crumbles, and la música is replaced with English phrases she does not understand. When other kids approach her to play at recess, she freezes, uncertain about how to exist between her two homes, or how to make new friends between her two languages. Abuela recognizes echoes of her own immigration journey on this challenging day at school, and she gently guides Gloriana toward newfound confidence. This beautifully painted, imaginative picture book celebrates the magic of existing in-between and the transformative power of self-soothing to build confidence. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Abuela's Library. We sat down with Musa Lisette Normal to learn about the inspiration behind this book.
Tell us a little bit about the book: Alfonso and Abuela love to spend Saturday afternoons finding books at the library and reading them together beneath their favorite oak tree. But when their beloved tree is cut down, can Alfonso transform the stump into something magical for their whole community—their very own neighborhood library? This uplifting story from award-winning poet Lissette Norman and illustrator Jayri Gómez shows us how to turn an unexpected setback into a happy ending: one with a beautiful sky-blue door and shelves filled with books for everyone to enjoy. What a moving story! Read more after the link... Today we celebrate the book birthday of Daughter of the Light-Footed People. We sat down with Belen Medina to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about this non-fiction picture book biography:
Experience a sixty-mile run with Indigenous athlete Lorena Ramírez. She runs in the traditional clothes of the Rarámuri, “the light-footed people,” to show that her people and their way of life are alive and thriving—outpacing runners in modern, high-tech gear and capturing the world’s attention. Lorena’s career as an athlete is an inspiring real-life example of the power of perseverance that will encourage young readers to follow their own dreams. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Into the Mighty Sea. We sat down with Arlene Abundis to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book:
Mariel’s family is a big POP of color! But when her tíos, tías, and cousins arrive for her hermanito’s birthday party, their many besos, noises, and colors start to feel overwhelming. As Mariel’s tears grow into an ocean, she paints a boat to stay afloat and dives into the mighty sea. When an island calls to her through the swells, she discovers sights, smells, and sounds on its shores that bring back memories of the people she loves the most to guide her back home. Beautifully illustrated and lyrically written, Into the Mighty Sea is about a girl with big emotions who learns that sometimes taking a step back can be exactly what you need. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Abuelo's Flower Shop. We sat down with Jackie Morera to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book:
When Elena discovers the heartbreaking truth about the garden across the street, she learns how even the saddest places can be beautiful and how the flowers her abuelo sells help send an important message to those in need. Abuelo’s Flower Shop highlights the love between grandparents and grandchildren, especially as they navigate challenging conversations about loss and grief. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Lupita's Hurricane Palomitas. We sat down with Alexandra Alessandri to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit 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 picture book includes Spanish-language vocabulary words and a glossary in the back. 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... |
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