Lupita sits on the wooden steps of her house and stares into the sky. It is not a commercial airplane that holds her attention or even a bird bedecked in exotic plumes. No, it’s none of these things. Lupita cannot tear her eyes away from the colorful papalotes, or kites, that capture her attention. They dot the sky over her head, playing in the wind, and seeing them, Lupita yearns for one of her own.
But when Lupita approaches her mother about buying one, her mother tells her that they cannot afford one of the beautiful, but expensive, toys. The family needs to save all of its money for school supplies and other must-haves. The kite remains in Lupita’s mind, until with the help of her father, Lupita hatches a plan to make her very own. Finally, Lupita has a chance to let her dreams take flight.
Graced with tender illustrations and playful text, this joyful bilingual picture book offers children aged 3 to 7 the opportunity to let their imaginations fly with Lupita’s.
“Children from all backgrounds can relate to this book, and the pleasantly realistic illustrations and bilingual format will support struggling readers.” —School Library Journal
LUPE RUIZ-FLORES is the author of six bilingual picture books: Lupita’s First Dance / El primer baile de Lupita (2013), Let’s Salsa / Bailemos salsa (2013), Alicia’s Fruity Drinks / Las aguas frescas de Alicia (2012), The Battle of the Snow Cones / La Guerra de las raspas (2010), The Woodcutter’s Gift / El regalo del leñador (2007) and Lupita’s Papalote / El papalote de Lupita (2002). She has also written children’s narrative passages for Harcourt Educational Measurement Center. Some of her poetry has been published in Voices Along the River, the San Antonio Express-News, and Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review. She received a Master of Arts in Computer Resources and Information Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1994. She was an engineering technician with the Department of Defense until her retirement in 1999. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is currently working on a middle grade novel. She resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Learn more at luperuiz-flores.com.
PAULINE RODRIGUEZ HOWARD has a BFA in Art from the University of Houston and attended the Glassell School of Art. She is a member of the Central Texas pastel society and has work in several art galleries and collections. She has created the art for several other books published by Piñata Books: Uncle Chente’s Picnic / El picnic de Tío Chente (Piñata Books, 2001), Icy Watermelon / Sandía fría (Piñata Books, 2000), and Family, Familia (Piñata Books, 1999). She lives in San Antonio with her family.
GABRIELA BAEZA VENTURA is an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Houston. She has translated numerous children’s books, including Dalia’s Wondrous Hair / El cabello maravilloso de Dalia (Arte Público Press, 2014), There’s a Name for this Feeling: Stories / Hay un nombre para lo que siento: Cuentos (2014), Adelita and the Veggie Cousins / Adelita y las primas verduritas (2011) and Remembering Grandma / Recordando a Abuela (2003).
Learn more by visiting her faculty page.
ATOS Interest Level: Lower Grades
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 3.4
ATOS Spanish: 3.4
Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 59183
