The Art of Maribel's Year

Maribel's Year is a Filipino kids' book about a Filipino girl who moves to the US.

MARIBEL’S YEAR comes out in just about six weeks and we’re incredibly excited to share some beautiful details of Maribel’s world with you!

MARIBEL’S YEAR recounts the year a little girl and her mother spend in America while waiting for her father to join them from the Philippines.  New country, new school, new friends.  A lot can happen in a single year. But one thing’s for certain: Maribel won’t forget her papa, even when he’s eight-thousand miles away in the Philippines.  After all, Papa is all around. He is the memory of feeding koi fish in their pond every morning. He is the constellation map as Maribel dreams of showing him her new world. He is the packages and letters sent back and forth.

He is everywhere except the place he’s wanted the most. But the bond between Maribel and Papa transcends oceans. So as the snow melts and turns to rain, as flowers blossom and welcome sun-kissed days, and as the leaves start to change and snow begins to fall once more, can Maribel wait just a little bit longer?

❄️🌱☀️🍂 Please help us spread the word — feel free to share this post with anyone who you think would love reading Maribel’s story!  It’s available for preorder now or you can request it at your local indie bookstore.

Homeland

Three sisters look forward to hearing their father’s stories when he comes home from work at night.  Their father tells stories of funny incidents, family love and community strength.  There’s even the story of the pigeons who his grandfather trained to fly in a circle — what a mesmerizing sight!  The stories paint a rich picture of their father’s homeland, Palestine, which his grandfather is unable to return to because his family and thousands of others had to flee the very place they called home — where they owned houses, ran businesses, built friendships and raised families.  But there is the hope that the daughters and their father share — that they will return one day.  A beautiful, poignant autobiographical debut from Hannah Moushabeck that celebrates the homeland of her family and ancestors.

Homeland was written by Hannah Moushabeck, illustrated by Reem Madooh and published by Chronicle Books. Out on March 28 and available for preorder now!

Ramen for Everyone

Hiro loves ramen and every Sunday, his dad makes sublime ramen from scratch, perfect from its rich, savory broth to its soft, springy noodles.  As he gets older, Hiro decides that the time has come for him to try his hand at making ramen, too.  He studies his notes and rolls up his sleeves, ready to seize the day.  Will it be the perfect bowl or the perfect disaster?  Little does he know, there might be more than one way to make a superspecial bowl of ramen.  A gloriously delicious tale of family love, noodles and ingenuity.

Ramen for Everyone was written by Patricia Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Preview of Maribel's Year

With MARIBEL’S YEAR coming out in just two months, on May 9, 2023, illustrator Sarah Gonzales and I thought we’d share some sneak peeks of the art!   Click here to take a look and to enter to win a copy of MARIBEL’S YEAR.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents, and ends on Sunday, March 19, 2023.  Book will sent to winner in May.