HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!

I can’t believe it’s time to celebrate the release of Abuelita’s Gift: A Día de Muertos Story and El regalo de abuelita: Un cuento de Día de Muertos!

Written by me, illustrated by Sara Palacios, and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers these books are now available for sale and ready to go out in the world!

***

***

Thanks for joining me in my journey to publication. Your support has meant so much to me though the past months. I’ve actually written a thank you note to everyone who contributed in making this dream come true. It was published on Kid Lit Village blog, during Kid Lit Inspiration Week, hosted by author and friend Cindy Mackey. However, due to this special occasion, I want to share it here again, as I remember with a grateful heart everyone who was involved in making Abuelita’s Gift possible.

I also want to celebrate this special milestone by sharing 12 facts about Abuelita’s Gift, which you may or may not know about.

I hope you enjoy them:

***

1. It was because of our kids and our interest in making sure they kept a strong connection to their Mexican roots and family after we moved to the USA, that I got excited about writing a Día de Muertos story.
2. Abuelita’s Gift is mainly a story about the loving relationship between a girl and her abuelita, and how the love and connection they share lives on ever after Abuelita’s death.
3. The story is set up in México, during the celebration of Día de Muertos (November 1st and 2nd). I love being able to highlight this beloved Mexican tradition and to provide more information about it in the back matter (there’s an author’s note, glossary, diagram of an ofrenda with its most important elements + their meaning).
4. The main character in the story is a Mexican girl called Julieta. She was named after my maternal abuelita. The name of the abuelita in the story is María, after my paternal abuelita. However, in the story Julieta calls her Abuelita.
5. The release day of the book is September 10th, which happens to be the birthday of my abuelita Julieta. Isn’t this magical? This has been such a special sign for me since I found out. 💜
6. Several characters in the story are named after my family members, like my abuelito José, my bisabuelita Cuca, or my tía Yolanda and Tío Paco.
7. Some memories connected to the characters, are actual memories I have from my relatives. For example, my abuelito José was truly a pilot, my bisabuela Cuca enjoyed sewing dresses, while my abuelita Julieta loved dulces de leche. It was touching for me to add these personal details to the characters. It made my connection to them stronger and more meaningful.
8. The white dress that Abuelita and Julieta wear is the typical dress from the State of Veracruz, México. It’s the one women use when dancing son jarocho, like “La Bamba”. I added it in the story because I wanted Julieta and Abuelita to bond over a traditional dance, thus adding another cultural layer to the story. Also because I had sweet memories of my daughter in that same dress.
9. Abuelita’s Gift is the manuscript that got me agented. Natascha Morris, my agent from The Tobias Literary Agency, liked my pitch during PITMAD Pitch Event in 03/04/21 (Twitter) and then she found it a perfect home at Knopf Books for Young Readers in September 2021.
10. Gianna Lakenauth, my editor, felt a strong personal connection to the manuscript from the very beginning. For me that was an indication that she’d be the perfect partner to make the story shine even brighter. I was so right!
11. Sara Palacios, the illustrator, is Mexican like me. I love how she added so much heart and emotion to the storytelling through her beautiful art.
12. I’m so happy and proud that this book has a Spanish edition available – El regalo de abuelita: Un cuento de Día de Muertos – and that I got to translate it. Being able to share about this Mexican tradition in my own language is truly a gift.

As you can tell, this book is dear to my heart for many reasons, so the fact that today it’s out in the world is such a special milestone and also a blessing.

May this book resonate with readers who are missing loved ones who have passed away. May it find love in hands of children who will get to learn about this beautiful tradition from Mexico and hopefully about their own ancestors. And may we always remember that the love of family never ends and that the best gifts come from the heart. 💜

Thanks for reading!

M

PS. Remember you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking the pink button.

📸 Cover photo by Ylanite Koppens.