Purchase to Support Our Program

“The Cot in the Living Room beautifully captures the gifts we receive when we open our hearts to others.”

—BookPage, Starred Review

“An important message about empathy, delivered with a light and skillful touch.”

—School Library Journal

“Between clever quilted endpapers, Burgos and D’Alessandro set a comfy space for readers.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The final spreads … illustrate how understanding can alter a child’s perspective. This heartfelt and endearing story should strike a chord with many.”

—Booklist

The Cot in the Living Room

Written by Hilda Eunice Burgos
Illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro
Published by Kokila

Night after night, a young girl watches her mami set up a cot in the living room for guests in their Washington Heights apartment, like Raquel (who’s boring) and Edgardo (who gets crumbs everywhere). She resents that they get the entire living room with a view of the George Washington Bridge, while all she gets is a tiny bedroom with a view of her sister (who snores). Until one night when no one comes, and it’s finally her chance! But as it turns out, sleeping on the cot in the living room isn’t all she thought it would be.

With charming text by Hilda Eunice Burgos and whimsical illustrations by Gaby D’Alessandro, The Cot in the Living Room is a celebration of the ways a Dominican American community takes care of one another while showing young readers that sometimes the best way to be a better neighbor is by imagining how it feels to spend a night sleeping on someone else’s pillow.

Look for the Spanish version, La Camita de la Sala.

 

Primary ISBN: 9780593110478
Publication Date: June 2021
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (New York City NY)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

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

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.