Areli Is a Dreamer
Written by Areli Morales
Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Published by Random House Children's Books
When Areli was just a baby, her mama and papa moved from Mexico to New York with her brother, Alex, to make a better life for the family—and when she was in kindergarten, they sent for her, too.
Everything in New York was different. Gone were the Saturdays at Abuela’s house, filled with cousins and sunshine. Instead, things were busy and fast and noisy. Areli’s limited English came out wrong, and schoolmates accused her of being illegal. But time passed, and Areli slowly became a New Yorker—although not an American citizen. “I could do anything here,” Areli says one day to the city sky. “Someday, I will.”
This is a moving story—one that resonates with millions of immigrants who make up the fabric of our country—about one girl living in two worlds, a girl whose DACA application was eventually approved and who is now living her American dream.

Primary ISBN: 9781984893994
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Mexican/Mexican American
Themes: Celebrations, Citizenship, Discrimination: Immigration Status, Family Relationship: Parents, Immigrant: Undocumented, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Immigrant
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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