I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled when my friend, Clementina, who has the most delicious and amusing blog, told me that she has published her first children's book. Of course, I (politely) demanded a copy, eager to see Clementina's wonderful gift for storytelling channelled into a format specifically for children.
And I was not disappointed. The Pumpkin Moon Empanadas is a lovely tale about young Paloma, whose hard-working Papi loves her so much that he promises to bring her the moon. And then one day, he does! So Paloma and her Mamá get to work making the most delicious empanadas out of it that anyone has ever tasted.
The vibrant illustrations lovingly capture the joy and tenderness of Paloma's relationship with her father. Young readers will be especially drawn to the sweet, colorful images.
The story is written in English with Spanish words and phrases embedded throughout. The English translation immediately follows, encased within brackets which can be a little distracting at first, but native speakers can skip past them easily and there is a glossary in the back of the book, too.
But possibly one of the best things about the book is the delicious recipe for Mexican pumpkin empanadas that is included in the back of the book. Perfect for making with your own little chef!
I love this special little story about how sometimes the greatest gifts we can give our children are imagination and hope.
Best suited for children ages 4 and up.
To purchase your copy of The Pumpkin Moon Empanadas, click here.