Max isn't confident with his Spanish, especially rolling his Rs, and his cousins always tease him about it. But he loves spending weekends baking with his Spanish-speaking abuela, while Lorito the parrot helps translate. But when Lorito disappears for a day, Max and Abuela must figure out how to communicate. Max's Spanish doesn’t have to be perfect, and Abuela can attempt a little English. Trying is what counts!

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!

In this illustrated middle grade story, Miguel Rosado wants nothing more than to see and draw the world… or, at least anywhere beyond the four walls of his family’s bodega in Washington Heights, where he has to work every day after school. For street-savvy and newly-adopted cat Lolo, spending all his time in the bodega sounds just perfect if it means he’s far, far away from the hungry, lonely nights he once spent in the freezing cold outdoors. But when Miguel ditches his responsibilities and lies to his parents about joining art club, his dream of juggling it all comes crashing down. Lolo will have to decide if he’s willing to be there for his new friend through anything—even venturing back into the frightful outdoors and busy New York City sidewalks. Can Miguel and Lolo trust each other enough to take on this adventure together?

Sounds exciting! 

Read more after the link...

It is a funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have
always been BFFs—until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she’s muy excited. She and her two best
friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art
class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they’re
all together, Luchy can handle anything.

But Cami has been acting weird ever since she got back from visiting family in Colombia.
She’s making new, “cool” friends who just seem mean. And suddenly, everything about
Luchy and Mateo is too immature for her.

Luchy is determined to help Cami remember how special their friendship is. They’ve been
BFFs their whole lives, and that can’t just disappear in a poof of glitter! But…what if Cami
doesn’t even want to be friends anymore?

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.
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Read more after the jump...

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!
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Read more after the link...