EL EMPACHO DE ISABEL / ISABEL’S TUMMY ACHE

By Julio Molinete

Illustrations by Claudia Navarro

 

ISBN: 978-1-55885-998-2

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 5-9

 

This sweet bilingual picture book follows a girl who visits her grandmother and explores the food and customs of her Caribbean island.

 

“I went to Cuba to meet my grandma Macurí,” Isabel tells her classmates when asked about her summer. It was a long trip that involved two planes, a guagua—or bus, a train that carried everything from sugarcane to calves, and even a horse-drawn cart. Finally hugging her Abuelita was the most beautiful moment of her life!

 

Grandma made a cake to celebrate her birthday—and all the others she had missed—and Isabel ate three pieces! The party continued the next day with lots of delicious food, including a mango, oranges, watermelon and an entire pineapple! No wonder that by nightfall, Isabel’s tummy hurt! But her grandmother’s special jar of hugs and kisses, combined with a gentle massage, healed the girl’s aching belly.

 

Drawing on his own memories, Julio Molinete writes about traveling to a rural village in the mountains of Cuba and the natural healing methods practiced there.  Lively illustrations by Claudia Navarro depict the joy of reuniting with far-flung family. This bilingual book for children ages 5-9 will surely encourage them to write about their own summer adventures and time spent with family—while also serving as a cautionary tale against overeating!

 

 

JULIO ANTONIO MOLINETE was born in Manzanillo, Cuba. A poet, storyteller, editor, journalist, documentary filmmaker and researcher, he is the recipient of a Lone Star Emmy Award as a news producer (2019). His books include Mercy Is Named Delilah (Ediciones Laponia, 2020), Brújula quebrada (NEO Club Ediciones, 2017), La Piedad se llama Dalila (Ediciones Bayamo, 2002) and En coche por el Arcoíris (Editorial Sanlope, 2000). His work has been published in anthologies, literary magazines, tabloids, and newspapers in the United States, Chile, Spain, Ecuador, Argentina and Mexico. He teaches Spanish at Louisiana State University.

 

CLAUDIA NAVARRO was born in Mexico City and studied graphic design at the National School of Arts at UNAM. She illustrated El cumpleaños de mi hermana Dulce / My Sister Dulce’s Birthday (Piñata Books, 2022), La Divina Catrina / Oh, Divine Catrina (Piñata Books, 2020) and La Frontera: El viaje con papa / My Journey with Papá (Barefoot Books, 2018).

DINNER ON DOMINGOS

Written by Alexandra Katona

Illustrated by Claudia Navarro

 

Publisher: Barefoot Books

Language: English

Hardcover: ‎32 pages

ISBN-10: 1646862937

ISBN-13: ‎978-1646862931

 

 

“This magical home turns a normal Sunday into domingo: the best day of the week.”

 

Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita’s house. Readers are immersed in the rich ways love is expressed within this home: the delicious smells of Ecuadorian home cooking, dancing, hugging and playing games with aunts, uncles and cousins. As Alejandra thinks about all the good times her family has had there, she decides that she wants to be brave and try speaking Spanish with Abuelita so that they can deepen their bond. Based on the author’s own life, this timely tale reflects the experience of many families.

 

“Navarro’s joyful illustrations are filled with movement and bright, happy colors, capturing the boisterous reunions in an accessible and humorous way . . . An ebullient celebration of family and the rituals that bring a family together” – Kirkus Reviews

 

“Drawing upon her own childhood experiences, Katona offers a warm story of family, food, and fun . . . A wonderful celebration of culture and family, idea for storytime or classroom reading” – Booklist

 

Alexandra Katona has been writing stories since she was young. When she's not writing, you can find her on an outdoor adventure, cooking for her family, or working in the specialty coffee industry. She lives with her husband, son, and dog in Southern California.

 

Claudia Navarro studied at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas UNAM in Mexico City, and has illustrated for clients around the world. She lives in Mexico City, Mexico.

EL CUMPLEAÑOS DE MI HERMANA DULCE / MY SISTER DULCE’S BIRTHDAY

 

By Erika Said

English translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

Illustrations by Claudia Navarro

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-954-8

Publication Date:  October 31, 2022

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

Vivid illustrations show two girls’ excitement about a birthday celebration

 

Six-year-old Dulce loves sweets, which is fitting since her name means “sweet.” She especially relishes the candy in birthday piñatas, and she and her sister can’t wait for her own party “with candles and cake, / balloons, music and a piñata.”

 

Kids will eagerly follow Dulce and her sweet tooth in search of the perfect birthday treats. At the store, there are brightly colored piñatas shaped like stars, cacti, donkeys and even a guitar! How to decide?!? And what does she want to fill its belly with? There are “mountains of delicious candies” to choose from! There are mazapanes, tamarindo and sweet toffee! Crunchy wafers with teeth made of seeds and sugar-crusted sweet potato slices!

 

Claudia Navarro’s colorful illustrations joyfully depict two girls’ excitement at a traditional Mexican birthday celebration where hitting the piñata leads to a cascade of sweet treasures. Children—and some adults too—will enjoy identifying their favorite candies, and this bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 is sure to inspire kids’ plans for their own birthday celebrations!

 

Erika Said is the author of iPoems: Poemas en Shuffle (El Humo, Querétaro, 2013) and co-author of Fuego del Aire (Media Isla, 2015). Her work has been published in Mexican and US magazines such as Revista de Literatura Mexicana Contemporánea and Círculo de Poesía. Her writing has been anthologized in numerous books, including Lados B (Nitro Press, 2018), Viejas Brujas II (Aquelarré Editoras, México DF, 2017), Along the River II (VAO, McAllen, 2012) and El infierno es una caricia (Fidaura, Mexico DF, 2011). She is a Ph.D. student in the Creative Writing Program in Spanish at the University of Houston.

 

Claudia Navarro, a Mexico City native, studied graphic design at the National School of Arts at UNAM. Her books include La Divina Catrina/ Oh, Divine Catrina (Piñata Books, 2020) and La Frontera: El viaje con papá/ My Journey with Papá (Barefoot Books, 2018).