Saturdays are special days for Isabel. She spends the day with her lively aunts who shower her with love and special attention
As Isabel enters her aunts’ house one Saturday morning, she is greeted by Tía Dulce and the savory scent of cinnamon. Isabel wonders what she will learn to cook today. After Isabel helps Tía Dulce make a special snack, Tía Rosa and Isabel steal away for a special beauty hour. Tía Rosa’s closet and jewelry box are a treasure trove full of fancy shoes, dresses, make-up, and jewelry. When she’s all dressed up, Isabel runs to her Tía Clara who exclaims, “You’re dressed for dancing!” Together they twirl to the rhythm of the music, working up an appetite for their special afternoon snack.
With vibrant illustrations by Christina Rodriguez, Isabel’s day with her aunts will delight children ages 3-7 who will identify with time spent learning and laughing with loving relatives. And for those children-and adults too-who want to make their own special afternoon snack, Un día con mis tías / A Day with My Aunts contains a recipe for meat empanadas in both English and Spanish.
“A story sure to please …”— Booklist on Loves Me, Loves Me Not
“A delightful collection, addressing adolescent agonies and bicultural issues.”— VOYA on Fitting In
“This story spills over with life, laughter, food and music.”—School Library Journal on Un día con mis tías
“It will be useful in collections with an emphasis on family traditions and togetherness.”—Kirkus Reviews on Un día con mis tías
The young girl wanted to disappear when the nun asked her to stand in front of her new American classmates to introduce herself. It was ANILÚ BERNARDO’s first day of school in Flushing, New York. Having recently arrived with her family to this country, Bernardo spoke little English and her classmates spoke no Spanish.
But, the experience has served her well. The native of Cuba, who fled the island with her family after Castro’s takeover, is determined to use her bicultural perspective to lend a compelling voice to the Cuban exile community. Bernardo uses her background to texturize her writing – a craft she has been honing from an early age. While her first attempts were poems in Spanish, she has since transferred her talents to fiction for young adults.
Her first novel, Jumping Off to Freedom (Piñata Books, 1996), which chronicles a young Cuban boy’s heroic attempt to reach the United States and hopes for the American Dream in a homemade raft, was nominated to the American Library Association’s annual list of Recommended Reading for Reluctant Young Readers, Quick Picks 1997. Jumping Off to Freedom has also been named to the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network (HAISLN) Recommended Reading List for Grades 7 and 8 two years running (1999 and 2000).
Her second work, Fitting In (Piñata Books, 1996), is a collection of short stories about Cuban American teenagers straddling two cultures in South Florida. It was the winner of the 1997 Skipping Stones Award and The Paterson Prize for Young Adult Literature. Fitting In also found a place on HAISLN’s 1999 Recommended Reading List for Grades 7 and 8. In 2006, the award winning short story collection was translated into Spanish as Quedando bien (Arte Público Press, 2006).
Bernardo’s next novel, Loves Me, Loves Me Not (Piñata Books, 1998), which explores the ins and outs of the young adult dating game, was included in The New York Public Library’s annual list of recommended reading for young adults, 2000 Book for the Teen Age. Loves Me, Loves Me Not was also named to the American Library Association’s 2000 YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults and the Tayshas High School Reading List. Her latest work, Un día con mis tías / A Day with My Aunts (Arte Público Press, 2006), is a colorful and bilingual picture book which explores loving family relationships.
Bernardo spent her adolescent years in Miami and attended Florida State University where she earned a B.A. in Spanish and a Master’s degree in Communications. As the Director of Public Information for a large organization, she honed her skills writing media releases and internal communications. She turned to writing books in 1995.
The author currently lives in Plantation, Florida with her husband and two daughters.
Born to multicultural parents overseas, CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ grew up as a military “brat” and loved to read, draw, and paint. A good book and her art supplies were always on hand as she moved from place to place. Christina excelled in her studies and later attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she graduated with a degree in Illustration.
Currently, Christina works as a freelance illustrator for many clients nationwide. Her vibrantly colored illustrations can be seen in the bilingual picture books Baseball on Mars / Beisbol En Marte (Piñata Books, 2009), Somos Primos / We Are Cousins (Piñata Books, 2007), Un dia con mis tias / A Day with my Aunts (Piñata Books, 2006), and Mayte and the Bogeyman / Mayte y el Cuco (Piñata Books, 2006), as well as The Antarctic Express (Atlas Games, 2009), The Wishing Tree (Elva Resa Publishing, 2008), Storm Codes (Windward Publishing, 2007), and Boon the Raccoon and Easel the Weasel (Multicultural Publications, 2005). She paints primarily in a mixture of watercolors, watercolor pencils, and gouache, but she also loves to create “mixed digital” illustrations with graphite and Adobe Photoshop. Her work has been recognized by the Midwest Booksellers Association, ForeWord Magazine, the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards, and the Mom’s Choice Awards.
When not illustrating, promoting her books, or meeting delightful young readers during school visits, Christina actively volunteers with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She also enjoys dabbling in graphic design, creating items such as note cards for nature centers, logos, and wedding invitation ensembles. In her spare time, Christina loves cooking authentic Mexican cuisine, hula-hooping, and hiking along the St. Croix River. She and her husband live with their dog in historic Stillwater, Minnesota.
ATOS Interest Level: Lower Grade
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 2.9
ATOS Spanish: 3.2
Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 111505