by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams
Illustrated by Gina Maldonado
4 stars
A sweet story about new experiences, a new home, and a new friend.
After Isabella and her mother move to the United States from Colombia, Isabella is anxious for the first day of school and making new friends. There’s a lot to get used to. She misses her father who’s still in Colombia, isn’t used to the cold weather, and is learning English. But when the first day of school is canceled due to too much snow, she finds there are always friends to be made.
A lovely emphasis on new friends learning from one another. Even though they speak different languages, the two friends still find ways to communicate and have fun.
The artwork is warm and beautiful. The text beautifully blends English and Spanish. The Spanish used is quite simple and can generally be determined by well-placed context clues for those unfamiliar. There is also a glossary in the back, which provides translations.
At the back of the book are Authors’ Notes about Betancourt-Perez’s real-life immigration to the United States, which inspired the story, more information on immigration, and a glossary of terms, including the English translations for the Spanish words used.
Such a sweet book filled with kindness, friendship, and hope paired with the struggles of getting to know a new place.