ABUELO’S FLOWER SHOP

I’m so happy to welcome author and fellow Musa Jackie Morera to the blog. Her debut picture book, Abuelo’s Flower Shop, is coming out in June and it’s illustrated by Deise Lino and being published by Beaming Books.

A bit about Abuelo’s Flower Shop:

When Elena discovers the heartbreaking truth about the garden across the street, she learns how even the saddest places can be beautiful and how the flowers her abuelo sells help send an important message to those in need. Abuelo’s Flower Shop highlights the love between grandparents and grandchildren, especially as they navigate challenging conversations about loss and grief.

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Now on to our interview:

M. Jackie, how wonderful to get this chance to chat with you about your debut book! Can you tell us why was it important for you to include a relationship between a child and her abuelo in your book?

J. I adore multi- and inter- generational stories so I knew I had to write one! In this case, Abuelo’s Flower Shop was loosely inspired by my experience visiting with my abuelos and watching them sell flowers in front of their home. So, the reason for the relationship came from that very real place in my heart. Of course, I could have chosen abuela or any number of adult characters for this book but I wanted the relationship to be between a child and her abuelo for a few reasons. Mainly because abuelos get so little representation in children’s books! But also because Elena’s abuelo is, in a way, challenging the machismo stereotype: He sells flowers; he not only spends time with but he’s gentle with his granddaughter; he helps her understand grief and teaches her about the importance of empathy. These aren’t typically things we see Latino characters, especially from older generations, do in stories but it’s what so many of them do in the real world.

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M. That was such a good answer, Jackie! I love it! Can you describe how was it for you to weave in the topic of death and grieving in your story in a heartwarming way that children can understand? Was it hard?

J. It wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be but it had its challenges. As I mentioned above, Abuelo’s Flower Shop was loosely based on my experience. My grandparents sold flowers in front of their Miami home and that home was across the street from a cemetery. This was the starting out point for my first draft: remembering my grandparents and our time together. So I think the topic of grieving and death already existed in the fibers of my story before I ever put pen to paper. However, unlike Elena, I never had this conversation with my abuelo, which meant I had to play it out on the page. It’s also different discussing in-direct grief and loss with a child than it would be if the story was about Elena grieving so I had to explore that from a few different directions as well before discovering what felt right for her story.

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M. How special that you were able to get inspiration from your own experience as a child! Why did you decide to include Spanish in your story and how did you select which words to use in this language? How did you come up with the phrase: “Te recuerdo y te extraño”?

J. I’m not a fluent Spanish-speaker myself—I unfortunately lost that superpower when I was very young—but I did have grandparents who spoke only Spanish. We would speak to each other in our respective languages and got on fine that way. Similarly, in Abuelo’s Flower Shop, all of the Spanish comes from abuelo and those words all plug in where they felt most natural to me. “Te recuerdo y te extraño” was a phrase that popped up in the first draft in a now deleted scene where abuelo taught Elena about remembering and honoring our loved ones. I cut the scene but kept the “I remember you, and I miss you,” message because it’s such a simple way for children to connect with this bigger than life sadness. Because that’s what loss is, right? Remembering and missing.

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M. I totally agree with you regarding remembering and missing our loved ones, and actually that resonates a lot because my book also touches on that topic too. Jackie, what message are you hoping readers will take away from your story?

J. I hope readers leave Abuelo’s Flower Shop with a deeper sense of connection to those around them. We are all one kind act away from making someone else’s day better. The more we tap into our sense of awareness, the more capable we are to make a change. I also hope readers see Elena’s fearlessness in asking Abuelo to help her understand, and her bravery in trying again even when she was worried she did something wrong.

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M. What a wonderful and important message about being kind, that’s exactly what our world needs. Finally, can you share what comes next for you?

J. If I’m lucky, the primary thing that comes next is meeting lots and lots of readers! I’m looking forward to sharing this story with the young and young at heart. I also have two more picture book releases to look forward to! The first, Together We Remember, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, will be here next summer. It’s about a young girl and her father who embark on an imagination adventure that includes rainforest hikes, intergalactic planet-hopping, and most of all, remembering Mami through their favorite activity—creating stories and memories together. The second hasn’t been announced yet but is slated for a Fall 2026 release. More on that soon!

Jackie, that’s so exciting! Congratulations on your upcoming books! I wish you the best with Abuelo’s Flower Shop and your other projects. I can’t wait to hear more about them!

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JACKIE’S BIO

Jackie Morera is a Cuban-American author of books for young readers of all ages. Born and raised in Miami, Jackie lives in Central Florida with her husband, son, and goofy pup. She enjoys telling stories, savoring pastelitos, and cozying up for a good nap. Abuelo’s Flower Shop, illustrated by Deise Lino, is her debut picture book.

Jackie invites you to visit her online at jmorerabooks.com and on TikTok, Instagram, BlueSky, Threads, and Twitter/X @jmorerabooks.

Thanks for reading,

M

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📸 Cover photo by John Mark Smith.