New Arrival/New American Books

Written by Mae Respicio
Published by Random House Children's Books

Kaia and her family live near the beach in California, where the fun of moviemaking is all around them. Kaia loves playing with makeup and creating special effects, turning her friends into merfolk and other magical creatures.

This summer, Kaia and her friends are part of a creative arts camp, where they’re working on a short movie to enter in a contest. The movie is inspired by the Filipino folktales that her beloved Tatang, her great-grandfather, tells. Tatang lives with her family and is like the sparkle of her special-effects makeup. When Tatang decides that it is time to return to his homeland in the Philippines, Kaia will do anything to convince him not to go.

Primary ISBN: 9780525707578
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented: Filipino/Filipino American

Themes: Family Relationship: Grandparents, Own Voices/Lived Experience, The Arts

Setting: United States

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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