Maribel's Year

by Michelle Sterling, Sarah Gonzales (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate the special connection between father and daughter in this gorgeously evocative picture book, recounting the year a little girl and her mother spend in America while waiting for her father to join them from the Philippines. From acclaimed author Michelle Sterling and illustrator Sarah Gonzales, a poignant story perfect for fans of Joanna Ho, Linda Sue Park, and Matt De La Peña.

New country, new school, new friends.

A lot can happen in a single year. But one thing’s for certain: Maribel won’t forget her Papa, even when he’s 8,000 miles away in the Philippines.

After all, Papa is all around. He is the memory of feeding koi fish in their pond every morning. He is the constellation map as Maribel dreams of showing him her new world. He is the packages and letters sent back and forth.

He is everywhere except the place he’s wanted the most. But the bond between Maribel and Papa transcends oceans. So as the snow melts and turns to rain, as flowers blossom and welcome sun-kissed days, and as the leaves start to change and snow begins to fall once more, can Maribel wait just a little bit longer?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063114357
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/09/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	259,102
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Michelle Sterling is an author, photographer, and speech-language pathologist. She lives in Southern California, where her summers are filled with reading, homemade ice cream, and long, golden hours at the park. When Lola Visits is her first picture book. Find Michelle online at www.averyandaugustine.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/17/2023

Through a wistful seasonal kaleidoscope that details nearly a year of separation, a young narrating protagonist shares with Papa, who remains in the Philippines, moments of life after their emigration. In January (“First steps,/ first snow./ New country,/ new home”), Maribel and Mama navigate an isolated, cool-hued snowy landscape; a page later, a juxtaposing image shows their homeland portrayed in a warm palette, and “friends and family dropping in for merienda and chats in our courtyard.” February sees Maribel struggling with English in an intersectionally inclusive classroom, making a friend, and sending a valentine “on an eight-thousand-mile journey to Papa in Makati.” April’s “drops of sun on my face” nourish Maribel’s optimism as the family celebrates Papa’s birthday by making his favorite dish and imagining him by their side. Tastes of dried mango and tamarind appear in a package with a letter promising Papa’s arrival before long, and the arrival of Christmas signifies the family’s sweet reunion. Digitally colored pencil on paper art from Gonzales portrays in painterly textures and lush borders the family’s varied experiences, while Sterling supplies tender exchanges and memories. The result is a richly laid seasonal feast that melds languages and traditions. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"A heartfelt, beautiful tale of finding home." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Digitally colored pencil on paper art from Gonzales portrays in painterly textures and lush borders the family’s varied experiences, while Sterling supplies tender exchanges and memories. The result is a richly laid seasonal feast that melds languages and traditions." — Publishers Weekly

"Sterling's descriptive writing uses all five senses to evoke American and Philippine culture . . . Paired with sumptuous illustrations of the changing seasons and family life by Filipino Canadian artist Sarah Gonzalez, these sensations come alive on every page." — NPR Books

Praise for When Lola Visits: “Debut author Sterling blends Filipino traditions with popular U.S. summer activities, creating a tender story celebrating culture shared between generations.”  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A glorious celebration of Filipino American experience. This book—much like Lola—is something to visit over and over again.”  — Booklist (starred review)

"This is a beautiful, tender expression of family and love that spans generations and great distances. The illustrations add so much life and context to the words. An extraordinary expression of Filipino culture and intergenerational familial bonds."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Beautiful, sweet and warm. Like all the best childhood memories of loved ones, When Lola Visits feels familiar, friendly and faded to perfection."  — BookPage (starred review)

"Will make readers long for the scents and tastes the narrator describes, and the warmth and happiness of summertime. With a smooth flow of new vocabulary and a universal nod to the meaning of family, this will be a storytime favorite." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 2023-03-14
A young immigrant explores the seasons while awaiting a sweet reunion.

Told in verse, this tale opens with Maribel and Mama traversing a snowy landscape in January, taking in their “First steps, / first snow” in a “New country, / new home.” The sunny flashback that follows reveals that the child misses their home in the Philippines, with “fresh carabao milk… / And friends and family / dropping in for merienda.” The pages are labeled by month, with February showing a frustrated Maribel in school trying to figure out how to spell words in English, but the child sees a glimmer of hope: a potential new best friend. In March, “Gray shivers / and rain” are countered by the memory of a family trip to Batan Island under a starry sky. Throughout the year, Maribel reflects on fond remembrances of Papa while adjusting to a new life; pieces of mail exchanged reveal that he has yet to journey from Makati to join them. The lyrical narrative is paired with Gonzales’ gorgeous illustrations, an artful blend of hues and shadows that bring warmth and depth to each page. Characters are surrounded by eye-popping swirls of colors and lush, textured landscapes. As the seasons pass, new holidays mixed with Filipino traditions take root. Christmas marks a return to “cold cheeks, / crisp noses”—and Papa’s arrival. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A heartfelt, beautiful tale of finding home. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews