A Festa for Luana
Written by Joana Pastro
Illustrated by Duda Oliva
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A young Brazilian American girl navigates the concept of belonging when she celebrates the Brazilian Festa Junina festival with her family in this remarkable picture book about embracing all aspects of one’s identity.
Pretty little details can help…
tell the story of who I am.
Luana has been counting down the days until she can visit her grandparents in Brazil. She’s just in time for Festa Junina, a vibrant celebration where people dance, eat, and dress up in all sorts of colors!
But Luana feels…different. Her clothes are too plain, and her cousins comment on her American accent. She doesn’t feel Brazilian. Luckily, with a little help from her family and a new tradition, Luana learns that every part of her story is important, and she belongs after all!
Primary ISBN: 9781665924795
Publication Date: May 2025
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Brazilian/Brazilian American
Themes: Celebrations, Celebrations: Festa Junina, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Clothing, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Family Relationship: Extended, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Separation: Different Immigration Status, Generation: 1st, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Portuguese Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Setting: Home Country
Setting: United States, Brazil
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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