Marisol Can’t Sleep / Marisol no puede dormir

Written by Sandra Martín Denis

Illustrated by Lewellyn Obispo

Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

*Publisher: Arte Público Press

*Imprint: Piñata Books

*ISBN: 979-8-89375-018-8
*Format: Hardcover
*Pages: 32
*Ages: 4-8

This entertaining picture book about an imaginative girl will teach children counting skills in two languages.

Little Marisol practiced counting from one to twenty in English and Spanish and was finally ready to say the numbers in school the next day! She kissed her dog Choli goodnight and then Mami and Papi tucked her into bed.

Marisol couldn’t fall asleep. Tossing and turning, she decided to count little sheep: “Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco. One, two, three, four, five animals in my bed.”  They curled up with her and she continued counting kittens: “Seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten animals in my bed!” Then she counted puppies, followed by bunnies. Soon the bed was too crowded and her room too noisy, so she grabbed her blanket and went in search of a more peaceful place to sleep!

Young children will enjoy the lively illustrations depicting a host of energetic animals—jumping sheep, stretching kittens, pouncing puppies and hopping bunnies—in this bilingual picture book that also teaches how to count from one to twenty in both English and Spanish. Kids—and their parents too—will surely want to add this book to their nightly bedtime routine!

A good purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities or with bilingual programs. —School Library Journal

SANDRA MARTÍN DENIS was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and raised in California. She is the author of a picture book, Why the Turtle Walks So Slowly (Reycraft Books, 2025).

LEWELLYN OBISPO is a Filipino illustrator with a passion for storytelling through art.

The Girl Who Wanted a Piano / La niña que quería un piano

By Diana García

Illustrations by Gabhor Utomo

Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

 

*ISBN: 979-8-89375-017-1

*Publication Date: October 31, 2025

*Format: Hardcover

*Pages: 32

*Imprint: Piñata Books

*Ages: 4-8

 

The joy of music and the satisfaction of helping others shines through in this bilingual picture book.

“Mami! Mami! I heard the most wonderful thing today.” Young Ofelia heard her teacher play the piano and thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world!

Ofelia wanted to learn how to play like her teacher and begged her mother for a piano, but they couldn’t afford one. That night in bed, longing for her very own, she pretended to press keys on her pillow. The next day—and throughout her childhood—the girl imagined herself playing the instrument and writing songs. She made up many, some of which reflected her love for her mom and dad and others that reminded her of the sound of rain on the roof and even galloping horses. She grew up and never learned to play the piano, though she never forgot about her dream.

Later, when she saw a piano for sale, she had an idea that would help other low-income children fulfill their wish to play a musical instrument. “Finally, my dream will come true!” Working with friends, Ofelia established a community center in Central Texas that to this day offers all kinds of enrichment programs for a nominal fee—or even for free! This inspiring bilingual picture book with imaginative illustrations by Gabhor Utomo shares the joy of music, as well as the fulfillment that helping others brings.

 

DIANA GARCÍA, a native of San Antonio, Texas, has been a bilingual educator for over 30 years. She has won numerous awards for her teaching, including the HEB Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and a Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities award in 2022. She lives and works in San Marcos, Texas.

 

GABHOR UTOMO was born in Indonesia and received his degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2003. He has illustrated several children’s books, including Arenas y trinos: Abecedario del río / Sand and Song: The ABCs of the River (Piñata Books, 2020), Lupita’s First Dance / El primer baile de Lupita (Piñata Books, 2013) and Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain (East West Discovery Press, 2004). Gabhor’s work has won numerous awards from local and national art organizations, and his painting of Senator Milton Marks is part of a permanent collection at the California State Building in downtown San Francisco. He lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.

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).

The Little Doctor / El doctorcito

by Juan J. Guerra


Illustrations by Victoria Castillo


Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

Publisher: Arte Público Press/ Piñata Books 

ISBN: 978-1-55885-846-6

Publication Date: May 31, 2017

Bind: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Ages: 4-8

In this bilingual picture book, a young Salvadoran boy

dreams of helping his family and community by becoming a doctor.

Salvador raced home from school to share his exciting news with his abuela: he made an A+ on his science test! But at home, he learns that his grandmother needs his help. She is going to the doctor and wants her grandson to interpret for her. Abuela is nervous because she has never been to a doctor in the United States.

When he learns that none of the physicians speak Spanish, the boy realizes that he is completely responsible for making sure the doctor understands his grandmother—and that she understands his instructions! But in spite of his help, the visit does not go well. The doctor rushes in and out. He doesn’t listen to Abuela. And he tells Salvador that she should not eat so much Mexican food! Abuela is so upset that she threatens not to take the medication the doctor prescribes! What can Salvador do to help her?

In this engaging bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8, a young Salvadoran boy dreams of becoming a doctor who speaks both English and Spanish so that patients like his beloved grandmother aren’t afraid to visit the doctor. Paired with lively, colorful illustrations by Victoria Castillo, this book will encourage children to think about their own futures as well as the role their culture can play in helping the community.

Reviews

“Castillo’s background as a comic artist is successfully expressed in the characters’ exaggerated expressions and in her predominantly red and orange color scheme.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Inspired by his own experiences as a young boy helping his El Salvadorian grandmother navigate the US health-care system, Juan J. Guerra’s insightful, bilingual account highlights the need for culturally sensitive medical practitioners, in The Little Doctor: El doctorcito. Notes of despair and hope shine through in the strikingly animated artwork from Victoria Castillo.”—Foreword Reviews

JUAN J. GUERRA, a doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, is a graduate of Pomona College and the University of Illinois School of Medicine. This is his first picture book.

VICTORIA CASTILLO, an illustrator and comic artist, loves vibrant, expressive shapes and colors. She lives in Texas with her family and numerous dogs. This is her first published book.

Esteban de Luna, Baby Rescuer! / Esteban de Luna, ¡rescatador de bebés!

By Larissa M. Mercado-López


Illustrations by Alex Pardo DeLange


Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

• ISBN: 978-1-55885-847-3
• Publication Date: May 31, 2017
• Bind: Hardcover
• Pages: 32 Ages: 4-8
• Piñata Books- Arte Público Press

In this bilingual picture book, a young boy discovers that he doesn’t need magical powers to be a hero.

Esteban wears his green cape every day. He wears it to breakfast. He wears it to the park. He even wears it to the grocery store. The only problem is that it doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t help him fly or become invisible. So he decides to sell it.

Just then his mother tells him that they’re going to the park, so Esteban puts his cape back on. At the park, he sees a baby doll on the swings. Suddenly a storm blows in, and Esteban’s mom calls him to run home. If Esteban leaves the doll, it will get wet and dirty. So he wraps the doll in his cape and ties it back on. “Don’t worry, baby! I’ll save you!”

On the way home he jumps over puddles and walks under awnings to keep the baby dry. At home, he wears the doll in his cape as he plays and does his chores. That night, with the baby clean and dry, Esteban feels like a superhero. He will not sell the cape after all. “From now on, I am Esteban de Luna, Baby Rescuer!”

This charming picture book depicts a young boy who is compassionate and kind, and will be sure to generate dialogue about what it means to be a boy while broadening the meaning of masculinity to include caring and protection.

LARISSA M. MERCADO-LÓPEZ, a Texas native and mother of four, is a professor of Women’s Studies at California State University, Fresno. This is her first book for children.

ALEX PARDO DELANGE is a Venezuelan-born artist educated in Argentina and the United States. A graduate in Fine Arts from the University of Miami, she has illustrated numerous books for children, including the Pepita series and Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup / Caldo, caldo, caldo. She lives with her family in Florida.