Like most Saturdays, Mr. García’s rooster wakes Lorena much earlier than she wants to wake up. Lorena pulls the covers over her head to block out the day, but she knows she has to get up. Today is no ordinary Saturday. She and her mother will be going to Grandpa’s house.
Since Grandma’s recent death, everything has changed for Lorena. Her mother often cries, and Grandpa sits motionless in his chair staring out the window. Though Mamá says Grandma must be in heaven, Lorena misses Grandma, too. She can’t see or touch heaven. Where is Grandma?
At Grandpa’s house, Lorena tries to help him stop grieving, but not even Grandma’s miracle words, “sana, sana, colita de rana . . .” work. How can Lorena help Grandpa?
Lorena notices a beautiful carved chest in the corner of the room. When Lorena opens it, she sees a tangle of colors, fabrics, and keepsakes from when Grandma was alive. Will the treasured memories inside be able to bring her Grandpa back, to bring back the life in his eyes?
The charming illustrations bring Lorena’s memories of her grandmother to life in this bilingual picture book for readers aged 3-7 that will help children discover that sometimes, heaven isn’t as far away as it seems.
Finalist, 2004 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
“[This story] could be a helpful tool for dealing with the passing of loved ones.”—ForeWord Reviews
TERESA ARMAS authored Remembering Grandma / Recordando a Abuela (Piñata Books, 2003), her first bilingual children’s book. Armas works in the LAUSD as an elementary school assistant principal. She lives in Hacienda Heights, California, with her family.
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 Grade
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 3.7
ATOS Spanish: 3.7
Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 75729
