¡Viva El Aguacate!: (Spanish Edition)

PreS-Gr 3--Every year, Muriel and her family celebrate her birthday underneath their avocado tree at the end of the summer. And every year Muriel feels disappointed that, although another year has passed, she is still small, her feet not yet able to touch the floor when sitting on the chair. Her father tells her a great secret: Muriel is special, full of magic, like an aguacate. Muriel and her father place an avocado seed in water close to sunlight, and Muriel can't wait for the magic of the aguacate to flow out. She is disappointed at how slow the process is, but her father reminds her that magic is beautiful but slow, and being patient is important. As time passes, the aguacate is transferred to a bigger pot, and Muriel, too, begins to grow. This touching story weaves in many special themes, including the growth of a child, the importance and magic of nature, love of a parent for their child, and the way in which time passes quickly even though it may not seem like it. The Spanish text is like a beautiful poem, with the father's words bringing calm and patience to Muriel when she needs them most. The illuminating illustrations show Muriel's loving and warm home and family. VERDICT A magical Spanish picture book that is a must have for school and public library collections.--Selenia Paz

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

The Spanish text is like a beautiful poem, with the father's words bringing calm and patience to Muriel when she needs them most. . . A magical Spanish picture book that is a must have.— "-School Library Journal, starred review"