Preview of Maribel's Year

With MARIBEL’S YEAR coming out in just two months, on May 9, 2023, illustrator Sarah Gonzales and I thought we’d share some sneak peeks of the art!   Click here to take a look and to enter to win a copy of MARIBEL’S YEAR.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents, and ends on Sunday, March 19, 2023.  Book will sent to winner in May.

My Baba’s Garden

Every day in the early morning before school, a boy gets dropped off at his grandmother’s house.  There he finds Baba humming while she cooks in her kitchen steaming with boiling potatoes, and every nook and cranny of her house is filled with food from her garden.  When it rains, Baba and her grandson search for worms, which they later plant to enrich the garden.  Due to language barriers, they don’t say much, yet they understand each other.  So it goes every day until Baba moves in with her grandson, and now it’s time for him to take care of Baba.  A beautiful and moving portrait of a grandparent and grandchild and their love that goes beyond words.  Don’t miss this one!

My Baba’s Garden was written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith and published by Neal Porter Books.

Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone

Sometimes it’s nice to be alone, lost in the pages of a book.  All you hear is the sound of turning pages and words running through your head.  It’s an enjoyable moment, to be sure.  But isn’t it also nice when a friend stops by and there you are, reading your book with a friend…and that friend is a horse!  A lovely, whimsical story about the beauty of solitude but also, the joys of friendship, be it real or imaginary.

Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone was written by Amy Hest, illustrated by Philip C. Stead and published by Neal Porter Books.

Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia

Every day, Zia dreads lunchtime at school.  She loves the Cantonese food that her parents make at home, but in the school cafeteria, her favorite homemade dishes feel out of place surrounded by everyone else’s sandwiches, fruit, and cheese and crackers.  Zia’s parents see her frustration and come up with a brilliant plan — they’ll make her a different dish every day, each bearing a special meaning.  At first, Zia approaches her special lunches with some hesitation, but each day as she eats more and more of each dish, wonderful things start to happen.  Could it be that eating the special dishes bring their meanings to life?  Zia might be in for the most magical week ever!  A beautifully heartwarming and delicious celebration of Cantonese food, family and embracing who we are.

Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia was written by Jenny Liao, illustrated by Dream Chen and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.