 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.
0 Comments
Happy Book Birthday to On The Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette10/31/2023  Today we celebrate the book birthday of On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette. We sat down with Musa Lissette Norman to learn all about the inspiration behind this book.
But first, a little bit about the book: ON THE LINE: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette written by Jennifer Jones and Lissette Norman and illustrated by Robert Paul, Jr. Dancing has always made her feel free, like she can do anything. But when Jennifer was a child, some people didn’t think that she had a future as a dancer because of the color of her skin. With the support of her family, especially her mother, she proved that anything is possible when you believe you belong. On the Line is a captivating true story about manifesting your dreams.  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Diego & Frida: A Bilingual Book. We sat down with Musa illustrator Ellia Ana Hill to learn all about the inspiration behind this book.
But first, a little bit about the book: Introduce your little ones in English and Spanish to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, known together as the Elephant and the Dove. Who’s your other half, your media naranja? Medias Naranjas: Diego & Frida will introduce your little ones to two of Mexico's iconic figures and the friendship that united them. Muralist Diego Rivera and artist Frida Kahlo were each other's muses and peculiar halves. This iconic, creative couple has left the art world ablaze with their murals, paintings and love stories.  Today we celebrate the book birthday of Our World Argentina. We sat down with Musa Aixa Pérez-Prada to learn all about the inspiration behind her book.
But first, a little bit about Aixa’s new book: OUR WORLD ARGENTINA is a colorful and lively hymingboard book that celebrates a day in the life of an Argentine toddler as he enjoys the city of Buenos Aires with his two moms. It features foods, locations, and activities commonly spotted in the city such as medialunas, mate, tango dancers, the local feria, and all sorts of public transportation. The book is Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson.  Cover illustrated by Alejandro Mesa. Join us in celebrating the book birthday for La Noche Before Three Kings Day. We sat down with Musa Sheila Colón-Bagley to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about this book: Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s "The Night Before Christmas," La Noche Before Three Kings Day is a perfect holiday tale. It’s almost Three Kings Day, and while the grownups prepare a large meal, the kids prepare their shoe boxes for los Reyes to arrive later that night. Will they stay up late enough to wish the Kings a Feliz Día de los Reyes? Or will the magic pass them by? Sing along with a great big familia as they fill up their platos, play their favorite juegos, and wait for the three kings and regalitos to arrive. This enchanting celebration of a beloved holiday is brought to life through lively rhyming dual-lingual text by Sheila Colón-Bagley with festive illustrations from Alejandro Mesa.  Book cover illustrated by Elisa Chavari. Today we celebrate the book birthday of Esperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena. We sat down with Musa Karla Arenas Valenti to learn about the inspiration behind her book.
But first, a little bit about this book: Celebrated by Kirkus as a "whimsical enchantment," Esperanza Caramelo takes place on the eve of Nochebuena when a spark of magic lights up Lita’s bakery. Esperanza Caramelo opens her eyes. Esperanza is a sugar figurine meant to sit atop the Nochebuena cake—but tonight she whirls through the bakery, singing and dancing, throwing a fiesta with all the other ornaments until . . . disaster strikes! A Christmas cake emergency ensues, and time is running out, Will Esperanza and her friends be able to save Nochebuena?  Cover illustration by Carlos Vélez Aguilera. Join us in celebrating AN OFRENDA FOR PERRO book birthday! We sat down with Musa Judith Valdés B. to learn all about the inspiration behind the this book.
But first, a little bit about the book: Benito loves Perro. But when Perro passes away, Benito is heartbroken. During the Day of the Dead celebration, he tries to understand the meaning of the flores de cempasuchil, candles, pan de muertos, photographs, and sharing memories of departed loved ones. By creating his own special altar for Perro, he realizes that his love for his beloved companion, and the happiness Perro gave him, will always remain. Told with honesty and hope, this heartfelt book is the perfect story for any child coping with loss, and for those who celebrate--or want to learn more about--Día de los Muertos.  Join us in celebrating La Azotea de mi Abuela book birthday! We sat down with Musa 'Judith ValdésB. to learn all about the inspiration behind the illustrations of this book. But first, a little bit about the book: Authored by Grace Ann Díaz, La Azotea de mi Abuela is a beaming tale of the love and bond between a granddaughter and her abuela. Abuela's rooftop is their haven, a place to make life-long memories, and is endlessly filled with new discoveries... until it's time to head back home. This picture book is an ode to finding joy in little moments and the special bond between a young girl and her grandmother.  Join us in celebrating Paula's Patches book birthday! We sat down with Gabriella Aldeman to learn all about the inspiration behind her debut picture book!
But first, a little bit about picture book: While at school, Paula’s pants catch on a bush that rips a large hole in her pants. She tries everything to hide the hole from her classmates, only to find out that they, too, have leaky lunchboxes, spaghetti stains, and hand-me-down backpacks. Nothing some colorful patches can’t fix! Children will follow Paula as she feels embarrassed about her torn pants, curious about patches, and excited for a possible solution that helps both her and her classmates. Paula’s Patches is a picture book for children ages 4 to 8. 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. |
Las Musas SpeakWelcome to our blog! Archives
December 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed