Cascarones: An Easter Surprise / Una sorpresa de Pascuas

$18.95

This bilingual picture book depicts one family’s joyful Easter tradition.

by Alicia Salazar
Illustrations by Aimee Del Valle

ISBN: 979-8-89375-015-7
Publication Date: May 31, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Imprint: Piñata Books
Ages: 4-8

Not yet published

A young girl named Victoria eagerly anticipates Easter and the confetti-filled eggs, or cascarones, she and her parents make for the holiday. As always, the preparation begins in January, and they collect eggshells for months.

Engaging illustrations by Aimee Del Valle show the family working together as Victoria describes the process of making the confetti-filled eggs, from gently creating a hole in the shell to drain the insides, to covering the hole with colored paper, dying them bright colors, inserting the confetti and decorating the colored shells.

When Easter Sunday arrives, her dad hides the eggs at the neighborhood park, where all her aunts, uncles and cousins gather. Her younger brother Nicolás enjoys his first Easter egg hunt and quickly learns how to find the treasures. And when all 100 cascarones have been found, the boy is in for one final surprise! This bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 is a joyous celebration of family and the Mexican-American holiday tradition of making—and cracking on each other’s heads!—eggs filled with colorful paper. Kids will want to try making their very own cascarones to celebrate the special day.

Click here to watch Alicia Salazar in the APP Authors Speak series talking about her creative process.

“Holiday customs come to life in this festive and heartwarming tale.”—Kirkus Reviews

ALICIA SALAZAR is the author of the Camila the Star series published by Picture Window Books, which includes Camila the Soccer Star (2022), Camila the Dancing Star (2022) and Camila the Baking Star (2021). She lives and works in Conroe, Texas.

AIMEE DEL VALLE is a visual artist who works extensively in watercolors. She has illustrated two books: Super Who? Super Me! (Kind-Kidz, 2021) and The Kind Kidz Club (Kind-Kidz, 2021). She lives and works in France.