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“Isabela recounts her memorable first trip to Cuba to meet Abuelita Macurí with her teacher and classmates in this dual language picture book…Cheery digital illustrations complement the English and Spanish text and support emergent reader comprehension…[T]his is an overall sweet story about feeling connected with family, even across distances, and honoring traditional remedies. Recommended.”

– School Library Journal

El Empacho de Isabel / Isabel’s Tummy Ache

Written by Julio Molinete and Gabriela Baeza Ventura (Translator)
Illustrated by Claudia Navarro
Published by Piñata Books

“I went to Cuba to meet my grandma Macurí,” Isabel tells her classmates when asked about her summer. It was a long trip that involved two planes, a guagua—or bus, a train that carried everything from sugarcane to calves, and even a horse-drawn cart. Finally hugging her Abuelita was the most beautiful moment of her life!

Grandma made a cake to celebrate her birthday—and all the others she had missed—and Isabel ate three pieces! The party continued the next day with lots of delicious food, including a mango, oranges, watermelon and an entire pineapple! No wonder that by nightfall, Isabel’s tummy hurt! But her grandmother’s special jar of hugs and kisses, combined with a gentle massage, healed the girl’s aching belly.

Drawing on his own memories, Julio Molinete writes about traveling to a rural village in the mountains of Cuba and the natural healing methods practiced there. Lively illustrations by Claudia Navarro depict the joy of reuniting with far-flung family. This bilingual book for children ages 5-9 will surely encourage them to write about their own summer adventures and time spent with family—while also serving as a cautionary tale against overeating!

Primary ISBN: 9781558859982
Publication Date: October 2024
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 05 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Cuba

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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