Cinco Books, owned by ReDeFL member Jenny Lizarraga, has been hard at work on new ways to serve our library communities. A press release in English and Spanish detailing their expansion of services for libraries seeking a partner and supplier for their collection development and processing departments has just been released.
Clink links below to read the press release in either English or Spanish.
Tu Books (Lee & Low Books Inc.) 2025.
Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: Elementary/Middle School
Rating: 5 stars
Ever since they were little girls Florencia and her best friend Selena have been going to ballet school and performing in productions. Now that they’re eleven they are allowed to try out for the role of Clara in the studio’s production of “The Nutcracker.” One by one the dancers fail to capture their teacher’s attention, but Florencia’s audition is perfect, and she wins the role. Unable to hide her jealousy, Selena turns her back on her best friend and ices her out of her life. Other dancers accuse the teacher of political correctness as being the only reason Florencia got the role. Things get worse after Florencia has a panic attack on opening night, Selena steps into her role, and she’s thrown out of ballet school for embarrassing the teacher.
Since ballet and Selena have been part of her life for so many years, Florencia doesn’t know how to cope. Her panic attacks worsen but, with the help of her psychologist, medication, two fringe students she met at school, and Irish dancing, Florencia starts to make a new life for herself. However, Selena is not content with being queen at her ballet school as she and her new friends want to ruin Florencia’s life. Though Florencia has always been one to internalize her feelings, she will have to learn to stand up for herself.
Yamile has created a believable character in Florencia, as the pitfalls of losing one’s best friend, trying to create a new social life when one’s old life is in shambles, and bullying are often real parts of 6th grade.
Recommended for ages 10-14.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.
Lee & Low Books. 2025.
Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: Elementary school
Rating: 5 stars
Though Mia is blind, her teacher taught her to “see” birds through listening to their songs and calls. One sunny, spring afternoon she and her aunt set off for the park where Mia identifies multiple types of birds through their songs. She calls herself a bird-listener, instead of a birdwatcher, and uses her listening skills to teach her aunt how to identify the many different birds they hear. As they walk, Mia eagerly anticipates hearing her favorite bird, and is thrilled when she finally gets to hear it. Its voice makes her feel as if she’s flying into a singing sky with it.
As Mia and her aunt lead readers along a paved path through the woods, their journey is shown through full-page, colorful illustrations. The text is filled with descriptions readers can hear and decipher such as the “klunk, thunk” of closing car doors or the sound of a crunchy pathway. Idioms like “notes come pouring out of the sky like raindrops” or “songs weave together like tangled threads” keep Mia’s story flowing. Young readers will not only learn the sounds of different birds but will enjoy interpreting the many uses of figurative language in phrases such as “a whisper of wings,” and “wind…flows over me like water, and “notes come pouring out of the sky like raindrops.” The back matter includes sources where readers could go to learn more about birds.
Highly recommended for ages 6-10.
Note: This review was originally published on You decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott
Cinco Puntos Press (Lee & Low Books Inc.) 2025.
Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: Elementary school
Rating: 5 stars
Through photography, bilingual text, and beautifully hand carved, painted, wooden birds, readers are introduced to musical instruments from Mexico. The end notes state the instruments represent those played by musicians from orchestras that perform in the town square of Oaxaca, Mexico on festival days and Sundays.
Well-known instruments such as guitars and maracas are featured against the lesser-known harp and double-bass on multi-colored pages framed with geometric designs. The extremely detailed, brilliantly colored birds and instruments guide the simple, bilingual narrative.
Recommended for ages 3-7.
Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: REFORMA de Florida 2025 Pura Belpré Book Grant Committee
Submissions now open for REFORMA de Florida 2025 Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant
REFORMA de Florida announces its 2025 Book Donation Grant of Latinx children’s and YA books to a Florida library or organization serving Latinx youth. The grant consists of a donation of a collection of 150-200 children and YA books published in 2024, created by Latinx authors and illustrators portraying the Latino cultural experience in the lives of children. You do not have to be a member of REFORMA de Florida to apply.
Your application should explain how your Florida community will benefit from receiving the books, and include your name, email address, phone number, type of library, name of your library, your status as a REFORMA de Florida member (non-members are welcome to apply), and anything else you’d like the committee to know. The timeline for the 2025 Book Grant application is as follows:
To apply by the March 31st deadline, send proposals to: redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com
About the REFORMA de Florida Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant
Applicants submit proposals to qualify to win a collection of 150-200 books published in 2024 that were among titles submitted by publishers for consideration to the 2025 Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee.
Applicants may include public libraries, school libraries, and/or other institutions providing literacy-based family programs to Latino communities in Florida.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 31, 2025.
Familius. 2022.
Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: Elementary school
Rating: 5 stars
Is it possible for a 5-year-old to have more than two names? Antonio Bernardo Sacre will be first to tell you his name is “Mr. Magoo, El Señor Magoo, El Goo, Antonio, Bernardo, Sacre, Papito, Coquito, Futinquito, El Capitán de los Mosquitos.”
Antonio Bernardo Sacre has never had any trouble with everyone knowing all his names, but now it’s time to go to kindergarten. When Mrs. Green asks for his name Antonio Bernardo Sacre proudly recites all ten of them. Uh oh! What will happen when a boy with ten names meets a teacher who only thinks he can have two names?
This amusing story is highlighted with full-page, colorful illustrations to complement Antonio Bernardo Sacre’s list of names. As the owner of 10 names myself (and a former kindergarten teacher) I’m not happy with how his teacher handled the situation. However, if Mr. Magoo, El Señor Magoo, El Goo, Antonio, Bernardo, Sacre, Papito, Coquito, Futinquito, El Capitán de los Mosquitos is happy, then Alma, Rosa, La Loca, Mi Vida y Corazón, Tire, Ramos, Feliciano, Mercedes, O’Neill, McDermott is happy too.
Recommended for ages 5-10.
Note: This review was originally published in: You Decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott
Little Jesús #2.
Minerva (Astra Books for Young Readers). 2024
Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: Elementary school
Rating: 5 stars
Full-page, colorful, childlike illustrations fill every page as little Jesús recounts his happiness at being appointed caretaker of his mother’s beloved collection of plants. From the spider plant’s “bajillion legs” to the “baseball-mitt chair” of her peace lilies, all hold special places in his imagination.
Unfortunately, little Jesús’ happiness is short lived when he finds his mother’s favorite plant looking ill, throws it a dance party, and accidentally breaks its pot. Despite his fears, Jesús tells his mother and learns that breaking the plantita is a good thing.
This sequel to “Papá’s magical water-jug clock,” which won Trejo the 2024 Pura Belpré Author Honor Award and awarded Kinkz an Illustrator Honor, is funny and delightful. Kinkz’s illustrations light up the pages, bringing Little Jesús’ adventures to life. Trejo’s comedic style is interwoven in his memories, while illustrations of seed packets with titles like “Goldfish muerto seeds,” (showing a dead goldfish), “Magical bean seeds” (shown farting), and “Seed seeds” (with one asking “what was the point?) are sure to bring laughs to his young readers.
Recommended for ages 5-10.
Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.
Saturday August 24, 2024
Former ReDeFL President Alicia K. Long drove down to North Miami from Tampa to personally deliver 100-200 Latinx children’s and YA titles to Edenia M. Hernandez at Lafe Allen Memorial Library in North Miami. Edenia is the 2024 winner of REFORMA de Florida’s Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant.
Alicia, along with ReDeFL’s current Vice-President/President-Elect Lucia Gonzalez, presented a delighted Edenia with the titles. More information about the presentation will be in our September newsletter. Congratulations to Edenia and the Lafe Allen Memorial Library!
Miami, FL November 2023
REFORMA de FL President, Maria Vega, and Immediate Past President, Mari Martinez, joined the Miami Book Fair on Sunday, November 19, 2023 to moderate a panel with authors and illustrators of middle grade fantasy and spooky book for middle grades. titled: “Through the Looking Glass: Adventures in Alternate Universes” with authors Ryan Calejo, Angela Cervantes, Monica Magaña, and Justine Pucella Winans.
REFORMA de Florida 