The Closest Thing to a Normal Life

Written by Michael Méndez Guevara.

ISBN: 979-8-89375-013-3
Publication Date: May 31, 2025
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 272
Imprint: Piñata Books
Ages: 14-18

This page-turner for mature young adults deals with tragedy, 

starting over and social issues relevant to today’s youth.

There’s nothing remotely normal about seventeen-year-old Ethan-Matthew Cruz Canton’s life. His parents, journalists in Spain, were killed in a terrorist attack and now he’s living with his grandparents in San Antonio, attending his father’s high school for senior year. Narrated in the young man’s perceptive, witty voice, the novel opens with his plan to keep his head down, make it until June and then follow his parents’ footsteps to Northwestern University’s journalism program. But his idea to keep a low profile is quickly blown out of the water.

As Ethan-Matthew deals with incessant questions about his hyphenated name and his grief, he looks forward to the only “normal” thing available: writing for the school newspaper. He was set to be the editor at his high school in Spain, but now his story ideas are being ignored! With the encouragement and help of his new friends, he starts an alternative online newspaper to cover the overlooked students and staff.  Things escalate, though, when he writes about a racist incident—instigated by the school’s mostly white, privileged student body—that turns violent!

Amidst all the drama, Ethan-Matthew suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself romantically involved with another boy, his cross-country teammate and best friend Reid. Author Michael Méndez Guevara, a former high school teacher, writes convincingly about the lives of young adults on the path to self-discovery. This refreshing, intelligent novel dealing with the loss of loved ones, prejudice and the clash of social mores is sure to capture the imagination of teen readers.

“With humor and undeniable charm, Michael Méndez Guevara navigates the complexities of grief and shows how our deepest relationships ultimately shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The Closest Thing to a Normal Life reminds us what it means to find one’s place in the midst of chaos and change.”—Matt Mendez, author of The Broke Hearts and Barely Missing Everything

“Alarmed that your students are reluctant to pick up a book? Tempt them with the first pages of The Closest Thing to a Normal Life, and I predict they will be fighting to be the first to get their hands on your copy. The narrator takes readers on the roller coaster ride of his senior year—ups and downs that are testament to his gumption and resilience. Ethan-Matthew’s search for ‘normal’ is a contemporary odyssey.”—Carol Jago, associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA, taught high school English for many years and is past president of the National Council of Teachers of English.

“High school is hard enough without having to start over in a place that was never supposed to be home, living a life that was never supposed to be yours. Ethan-Matthew Cruz Canton wasn’t planning on spending senior year in his dad’s childhood bedroom, dodging questions about his ‘interesting’ name and pretending he’s totally fine (spoiler alert: he’s not). After losing both parents at once, that’s exactly where he lands—stuck in a school where friendships go back to the sandbox. Just trying to survive the year would be hard enough, but then there’s an unexpected pull of new friendships, tangled emotions, and a connection that makes Ethan-Matthew question everything. Suddenly, he’s not just figuring out how to grieve‒he’s navigating the exhilarating, messy blur between friends and something more. The Closest Thing to a Normal Life is heartbreakingly real, laugh-out-loud funny, and packs a twist you won’t see coming. For anyone who’s felt like they don’t quite belong or wondered if joy is possible after loss‒this book is for you.”—Annie Jenson, host of The History Solarium Book Club

MICHAEL MÉNDEZ GUEVARA has worked as a high school English teacher, instructional coach and curriculum writer. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, where he works as an educational consultant. This is his first published book.

Trini’s Magic Kitchen

 Written by Patricia Santos Marcantonio

 

ISBN: 979-8-89375-005-8

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 217

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 10-15

 

Entertaining novel explores young girl’s family difficulties

alongside new adventures in the kitchen.

  

Trini has just started seventh grade in Denver when her mom loses her job. Money is scarce and they lose their apartment too. The girl must go live with her grandparents in Alamosa until her mother can find work and a place for them to live. She has always considered her grandparents’ house a second home, but the day her mom leaves her there she feels homeless.

Grandma Lydia and Grandpa Frank, who ride motorcycles and listen to rock, are the best, but Trini misses her mom and dreads being the new kid at school. Gradually she adjusts, making another best friend and setting her sights on a cute boy. And when her grandmother discovers Trini can’t cook, she begins teaching her granddaughter how to make traditional Mexican dishes. Through the cooking lessons, the girl learns more about her dad, who died when she was young, and why her mom doesn’t cook.

This warmhearted and entertaining novel about overcoming challenges will resonate with readers facing problems with family and friends. Recipes for the meals made by Trini and her grandparents—including tostadas, green chile enchiladas, calabacitas and albóndigas—are included and will encourage young people to begin their own adventures in the kitchen while learning the value of creating magical dishes for loved ones.

 

PATRICIA SANTOS MARCANTONIO is the author of Best Amigas (Fitzroy Books, 2023), Under the Blood Moon (Dark Ink, 2022), Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace (Crooked Lane Books, 2020), Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit (Crooked Lane Books, 2019), Verdict in the Desert (Arte Público Press, 2016) and Red Ridin’ in the Hood and Other Cuentos (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005). She lives and works in Boise, Idaho.

RACING AT DEVIL’S BRIDGE AND OTHER STORIES / CARRERAS EN EL PUENTE DE DIABLO Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

By Xavier Garza

Spanish translation by Alaíde Ventura Medina

 

ISBN: 979-8-89375-003-4

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 129

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 8-12

 

Spooky creatures from Latin American lore lurk in these entertaining stories for young people.

 

In the title story, a boy breaks his mom’s rule against staying out after dark because he is intent on training for the big state track meet. When his younger sister turns up and challenges him to a race across Devil’s Bridge, he taunts her—but is ultimately stunned when she beats him. But more shocking is the sudden appearance of a terrifying figure sporting a goat’s head and wielding a rusty ax!

 

The stories in Xavier Garza’s new collection feature creepy creatures from Latin American lore with a contemporary twist. There’s Christina, who the bullies dub “Donkey Lady” because of her odd-sounding laughter, but who later terrifies her abusers—and gets the last laugh! Joaquín’s grandfather has been told to vacate his property so the border wall can be built across it, but an Aztec eagle refuses to let the authorities kick the old man off his land. Vince and Marina find an old Ouija board under their dead grandmother’s bed and when a malevolent spirit springs from the game, the old woman’s infamous flying chancla appears to send the demon packing!

 

Accompanied by the author’s striking illustrations of chupacabras and other monsters, the blood-curdling stories in this bilingual collection for kids ages 8-12 are sure to lure even the most reluctant readers into its pages.

 

 

Other Books in the Series

 

THE DONKEY LADY FIGHTS LA LLORONA AND OTHER STORIES / LA SEÑORA ASNO SE ENFRENTA A LA LLORONA Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

Margarito is eleven years old now and he’s way past believing in Grandpa Ventura’s ghost stories, but he loves listening to them anyway. One evening on his way home from his grandfather’s, Margarito finds himself alone in the gathering dusk, crossing a narrow bridge. Suddenly, a woman in white floats towards him and calls, “Come to me, child … come to me!” He frantically hides in the shallow river, but soon sees a pair of yellow, glowing eyes swimming towards him. Before long, the Donkey Lady and La Llorona are circling each other, fighting to claim poor Margarito as their next victim!

 

Popular storyteller Xavier Garza returns with another collection of eerie tales full of creepy creatures from Mexican-American lore. There are duendes, bald, green-skinned brutes with sharp teeth; thunderbirds, giant, pterodactyl-like things that discharge electricity from their wings during thunderstorms; and blood-sucking beasts that drain every single drop of blood from their victims’ bodies!

 

Set in contemporary times, Garza’s young protagonists deal with much more than just the supernatural: there are chupacabras and drug dealers, witches and bullies, a jealous cousin and the devil. Accompanied by the author’s dramatic black and white illustrations, the short, blood-curdling stories in this bilingual collection for ages 8 – 12 are sure to bewitch a whole new generation of young people.

 

 

KID CYCLONE FIGHTS THE DEVIL AND OTHER STORIES / KID CICLÓN SE ENFRENTA A EL DIABLO Y OTROS CUENTOS

 

Cousins Maya and Vincent are thrilled to be ring side at a lucha libre match. Kid Cyclone, the wrestling world’s favorite hero who also happens to be the kids’ beloved uncle, is facing off against a devil-masked opponent, El Diablo. “No masked devil can beat my uncle. Not even the real devil himself,” declares Maya. But the real devil doesn’t take kindly to such disrespect, and soon Kid Cyclone finds himself fighting the most hellish challenger of all!

 

Popular kids’ book author Xavier Garza returns with another collection of stories featuring spooky characters from Mexican-American folklore. There’s a witch that takes the shape of a snake in order to poison and punish those who disregard her warnings; green-skinned, red-eyed creatures called chupacabras that suck the blood from wild pigs, but would just as soon suck the blood from a human who has lost his way in the night; a young girl disfigured in a fire set by a scorned lover who gets her revenge as the Donkey Lady; and the Elmendorf Beast, said to have the head of a wolf with skin so thick it’s impervious to shotgun blasts.

 

Accompanied by the author’s striking illustrations of the creepy creatures, the hair-raising stories in this bilingual collection for kids ages 8 – 12 are sure to lure even the most reluctant readers into its pages.

 

 

XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for young people, including The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La señora Asno se enfrenta a La Llorona y otros cuentos (Piñata Books, 2015) and six volumes in the Monster Fighter Mystery series / Serie Exterminador de monstruos. He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.

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).

GRANDMA’S HAIR IS ANKLE LENGTH / EL CABELLO DE ABUELA LE LLEGA HASTA LOS TOBILLOS

Written by Adriana Camacho-Church

Illustrations by Carmen Lop

 

ISBN: 978-1-55885-989-0

Publication Date: May 31, 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

Bilingual picture book highlights the loving relationship between a child and her elder and the beauty of the natural world  

 

In this poetic ode to grandmothers, a young girl likens her abuela’s long hair to strength, security and understanding. The black strands speak of “finding courage in the unknown,” while the white ones represent wisdom and hope.

 

Camacho-Church evokes the natural world with references to creatures such as owls and dragonflies, plants like roses and wildflowers, and sunlight, the moon and waterfalls. The girl wonders if her own hair will one day tell stories, and her grandmother assures her it already “holds the whispers of her ancestors.”

 

With stunningly beautiful illustrations by Carmen Lop that depict a loving intergenerational relationship playing out against the backdrop of nature, this bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 confirms both the importance of the world in which we live and the love between an elder and a child. “Grandma and I hug, and our hair flows together as one.”

 

 

“In this bilingual story told in English and Spanish, a child sees magic, beauty and wonder in a beloved grandmother’s hair. This lyrical story makes clear that self-love can be passed down and taught through generations. With time and encouragement, young people can become as strong and powerful as those they admired when they were young. Vibrant and expressive illustrations filled with swirling, vivid linework emphasize the bonds between family members and make references to Mesoamerican ancestry and gods. Both characters are brown-skinned and cued Latine. A gentle lullaby: poetic, sweet, and moving.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

 

Adriana Camacho-Church is the author of a picture book, Grandma, Where Will Your Love Go? / Abuela, ¿adónde irá tu amor? She was born in Colombia and grew up in Chicago and Los Angeles. She currently lives and works in Delaware.

Carmen Lop is a Mexican artist based in Los Angeles. Her work has been selected for inclusion in the 3rd Biennial of Illustration by Pictoline 2022 and the XXXVI Catálogo de Ilustradores de CONACULTA 2016. This is her first picture book.

Madre Tierra/ Mother Earth series

Books written by Jorge Argueta

Illustrated by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara

Published by Arte Público Press/ Piñata Books

AGUA, AGÜITA / WATER, LITTLE WATER

 

With stunningly beautiful illustrations by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara that depict the mountains, rocks, vegetation and animals of the natural world, this poem about the importance of water reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for nature. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. This book is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about the natural world and to begin conversations about the interconnected web of life.

 

FUEGO, FUEGUITO / FIRE, LITTLE FIRE

With stunningly beautiful illustrations by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara that depict the natural world, this poem about the importance of fire reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for nature. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. The sequel to Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water, this book is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about the environment.

VIENTO, VIENTITO / WIND, LITTLE WIND

 

A Junior Library Guild selection, this book about the wind reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for the natural world. Felipe Ugalde Alcántara’s gorgeous illustrations depict birds floating on the breeze and trees bent under strong gusts. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. The third book in a four-part series about Mother Earth, this is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about nature and to begin conversations about the interconnected web of life.

 

TIERRA, TIERRITA / EARTH, LITTLE EARTH

 

A Junior Library Guild selection, this book about Mother Earth reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for the natural world. Felipe Ugalde Alcántara’s stunning illustrations depict streams, mountains and wildlife in their habitat. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. This is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about nature and to begin conversations about the interconnected web of life.  

 

 

DO I BELONG HERE? / ¿ES ESTE MI LUGAR?

Written by René Colato Laínez

Illustrations by Fabricio Vanden Broeck

ISBN:  978-1-55885-968-5

Publication Date:  May 31, 2023

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 6-9

I am excited to present my new children's bilingual book Do I Belong?/ ¿Es este mi lugar?

This book is based on my personal experience during the first days of school in the United States. 

I was so confused with the new language. In Spanish, I felt smart but in English I felt that I did not belong here. I asked myself many times, do I belong here? 

I had many dreams to accomplish and I wondered if I would be able to accomplish my  dreams in this new country. 

I want to tell all children, especially recent immigrant children that yes, they belong here. It must be dark and confusing now but there is always new light at the end of the tunnel. 

The experiences of newcomer students in schools are portrayed in this winning, bilingual picture book. 

Award-winning children’s book author René Colato Laínez teams up again with illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck to explore the experiences of newcomers in schools and affirm that yes! They do belong. With beautiful acrylic-on-wood illustrations depicting children at school, this bilingual kids’ book by a Salvadoran immigrant tells an important story that will resonate with all kids who want nothing more than to belong.  

MIS DÍAS CON PAPÁ / SPENDING TIME WITH DAD

 

Written by Elías David

Illustrations by Claudia Delgadillo

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-969-2

Publication Date:  May 31, 2023

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

This charming bilingual picture book deals with gender equality.

 

This sweet bilingual picture book follows a boy and his stay-at-home dad, who takes care of him while his mom goes to work at the port, “where huge cargo ships come and go every day.” She oversees the containers that go around the world!  

 

The boy recounts his days spending time with his father, from “when the sun starts filling the room with light,” to eating breakfast, brushing his teeth and talking to his grandparents who live in a different country. His favorite time of the day is when he gets to play with his dinosaurs and his friend Tato, a stuffed cat who joins him on all his adventures. When Mom comes home, the whole family goes to the park. After dinner, he goes to bed and thinks about the ships from his mom’s work, his dinosaurs and his grandparents. Soon he falls asleep, hugging his special kitty.  

 

In this bilingual picture book brightly illustrated by Claudia Delgadillo, young children will relate to the family and its daily routines while immigrants will see themselves as they adjust to life far away from relatives. And children will see that the roles of men and women are fluid; dads can be loving fathers in charge of their kids’ well-being and moms can go to the office every day—or vice versa.

Elías David, a native of Reynosa, Mexico, is the author of Instantes (Alja, 2017) and Una lucidez aturdida (UANL, 2022). He is the associate editor of SED Ediciones and Suburbano, a magazine on culture. He lives with his family in Houston, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Creative Writing in Spanish at the University of Houston.

 

Claudia Delgadillo was born in Mexico City and graduated from UNAM with a degree in graphic communication. She is the author and illustrator of Biodiversidad (UNAM, 2011).

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).

HALLOWEEN, EL DÍA DE LAS BRUJAS / HALLOWEEN, A DAY FOR WITCHES

By María L. Gutiérrez

Illustrations by Nicole Montenegro

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-953-1

Publication Date:  October 31, 2022

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

 

Colorful illustrations enhance one boy’s excitement about the annual fall holiday

 

 

“Oh, what fun, it’s Halloween! / No witches or monsters can stop me / from having fun this Halloween!”

 

In this poetic ode to kids’ favorite fall holiday, a young boy eagerly anticipates the impending night. There are so many costumes to choose from that he can’t decide. But finally, “A fierce pirate that’s what I’ll be, / and no one will recognize me.” There are pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, haunted houses and spooky front porches. And best of all, the treats!

 

Montenegro’s vibrant illustrations bring to life a neighborhood with children in elaborate costumes—a mummy, a princess, a cowboy, Dracula!—, going from door to door calling, “Trick or treat!” This bilingual picture book will encourage children ages 4-8 to write their own poems about Halloween—and of course begin imagining their costumes for a very special night! This bilingual picture book will encourage children ages 4-8 to write their own poems about Halloween—and of course begin imagining their costumes for a very special night!

 

María L. Gutiérrez, a former bilingual teacher who taught for almost 40 years, comes from a large immigrant family. She was born in Oxnard, California, but her family moved back to Mexico when she was four. A graduate of California State University, Fresno and California State University, Northridge, she lives in Santa Paula, California.

 

Nicole Montenegro, a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, is a children’s book illustrator based in North Carolina.  

EL NIÑO DE MAÍZ / THE BOY OF MAIZE

  

By Mario Bencastro

Illustrations by Christina Rodriguez

 

 

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-946-3

Publication Date:  May 31, 2022

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 5-10

 

 

Gorgeous bilingual picture book introduces children to indigenous origin story of Latin America.

 

In a land where the yellow jaguar lives and the sun rises behind green mountains, “the earth was filled with joy” when Balám, the boy of maize, was born. He climbed on top of a big, blue turtle, and along with an assortment of other animals, began the journey to the village.

 

Excited to spread the word about the child’s birth, the creatures worked together—each utilizing its special skills—in perfect harmony with Mother Earth. The turtle walked so slowly that he sent the louse ahead to give the good news to the townspeople. But the louse fell asleep in the road, so the toad swallowed him and said, “I will take you with the message.” The toad, exhausted from taking big leaps, was swallowed by the snake, and the snake, unable to cross the river, was swallowed by the hawk. When the bird flew into the village, the louse delivered the message, but long days and nights passed and still the boy did not arrive! Would the great turtle be able to deliver the special boy?

 

Capturing the essence of nature while telling the mythical story that unites Central American countries around the importance of corn, this enchanting bilingual picture book introduces children to the Mayan origin story of a people made of maize. Written by acclaimed Salvadoran writer Mario Bencastro, it contains beautiful illustrations by accomplished children’s book artist Christina Rodriguez.

 

 

MARIO BENCASTRO is the author of numerous award-winning books, including a bilingual picture book, Un tren llamado Esperanza / A Train Called Hope (Piñata Books, 2021), and a novel for teens in English and Spanish: A Promise to Keep (Piñata Books, 2005) and Viaje a la tierra del abuelo (Piñata Books, 2004). Bencastro lives and works in Florida.

 

CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ is the illustrator of several picture books for children, including We Are Cousins / Somos primos (Piñata Books, 2007), Mayte and the Bogeyman / Mayte y el Cuco (Piñata Books, 2006) and Un día con mis tías / A Day with My Aunts (Piñata Books, 2006). She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2003 with a BFA in illustration.

VIENTO, VIENTITO / WIND, LITTLE WIND

 

 

By Jorge Argueta

Illustrations by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara

 

ISBN:  978-1-55885-945-6

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 5-10

 

This trilingual picture book written in verse recounts the rejuvenating force of wind from the point of view of one little breeze.

 

My name is Wind 

but everyone knows me 

as Little Wind.

 

In this beautiful, poetic ode to the refreshing but sometimes dangerous force of wind, award-winning children’s book author Jorge Argueta describes—in English, Spanish and Nahuat—the power of air from the perspective of a mischievous youngster.

 

He is born everywhere and can fly all around Mother Earth. Little Wind is swift like a hummingbird, he comes and goes. Zummm, zummm, zummm. “You can’t see me. / You can’t touch me. / But you can feel me.” Some call him the north wind, or draft, breeze, gale, hurricane, tornado, but “I like it better / When they call me Wind, Little Wind.”

 

A Junior Library Guild selection, this book about the wind reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for the natural world. Felipe Ugalde Alcántara’s gorgeous illustrations depict birds floating on the breeze and trees bent under strong gusts. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. The third book in a four-part series about Mother Earth, this is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about nature and to begin conversations about the interconnected web of life.

 

 

JORGUE ARGUETA is a prize-winning poet and author of more than twenty children’s picture books, including Una película en mi almohada / A Movie in My Pillow (Children’s Book Press, 2001); Guacamole: Un poema para cocinar / A Cooking Poem (Groundwood Books, 2016); Fuego, Fueguito / Fire, Little Fire (Piñata Books, 2019); Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water (Piñata Books, 2017); and Somos como las nubes / We Are Like the Clouds (Groundwood Books, 2016), which won the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and was named to USBBY’s Outstanding International Book List, the ALA Notable Children’s Books and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices. His poetry collection, En carne propia: Memoria poética / Flesh Wounds: A Poetic Memoir (Arte Público Press, 2017), focuses on his experiences with civil war and living in exile. The California Association for Bilingual Education honored him with its Courage to Act Award and Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water won the inaugural Campoy-Ada Award in Children’s Poetry given by the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española. A Pipil Nahua Indian, Jorge is also the founder of The Library of Dreams in his native El Salvador, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy in both rural and metropolitan areas. Jorge divides his time between San Francisco, California, and El Salvador.

 

FELIPE UGALDE ALCANTARA, a Mexico City native, illustrated Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water (Piñata Books, 2017); Fuego, Fueguito / Fire, Little Fire (Piñata Books, 2019); Mother Fox and Mr. Coyote / Mamá Zorra y Don Coyote (Piñata Books, 2004); and Little Crow to the Rescue / El Cuervito al rescate (Piñata Books, 2005).