La Maleta de Tesoros

by Natalia Sylvester, Juana Medina (Illustrator), Natalia Sylvester (Translator)

Overview

A warm, gentle ode to cherished visits with grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven’t met them yet, by an acclaimed author and illustrator.

It’s been three years since Abuela’s last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail—from Abuela’s maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela’s room and down the hall. But Abuela’s visit can’t last forever, and all too soon she’s packing her suitcases again. Then Dulce has an idea: maybe there are things she can gather for her cousins and send with Abuela to remind them of the U.S. relatives they’ve never met. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce—something to help her remember that home isn’t just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593697566
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years
Language:	Spanish

About the Author

Natalia Sylvester is an award-winning author of the young adult novels Breathe and Count Back from Ten and Running and the adult novels Everyone Knows You Go Home and Chasing the Sun. Born in Lima, Peru, she grew up in Miami, Central Florida, and South Texas, and received her BFA from the University of Miami. A Maleta Full of Treasures is her first picture book.

Juana Medina is the creator of the Pura Belpré award-winning chapter book Juana & Lucas and many other titles and has illustrated numerous picture books, including ‘Twas the Night Before Pride and Smick! Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Juana Medina now lives with her family in the Washington D.C. area.

Editorial Reviews

★ "This gentle story is written in a Spanish that sounds like home with familiar themes and images of family, root countries, and a love that spans distances; children will wait in line to have a turn to share it with their families." —School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 05/10/2024

K-Gr 3—This lovely title is filled with relevant cultural details and themes that Latinx students (and others) will be intimately familiar with—a visit from Abuelita bringing suitcases of candy and other country-specific gifts not available in the United States. Although these gifts seem tied to Sylvester and Medina's own South American roots, their symbolism for the tastes, colors, and smells from multiple ethnic heritages are relatable for a range of Latin American and Caribbean backgrounds. This book also taps into children's familiarity with the visits of family members, particularly grandparents, allowing them to better connect to their own experiences, identities, and intergenerational relationships. Readers will gain a better sense of their parents' and even their own sense of nostalgia for a place that isn't physically their home, but feels like the safe space of their heart. The tenderness of that abuelita-granddaughter bond also lends to its sense of cultural authenticity, as do Medina's bilingual illustrations. VERDICT This gentle story is written in a Spanish that sounds like home with familiar themes and images of family, root countries, and a love that spans distances; children will wait in line to have a turn to share it with their families.—Ruth Quiroa

School Library Journal