Lucia invites you to visit her bustling casa and meet an intergenerational array of loved ones in a charming Spanglish celebration of family life.
Este es el baño . . . It’s where I shave my barba con Abuelo. Bienvenidos to Lucía’s home. Lucía lives in her casa with her big, loud, beautiful familia, and she’s going to show you around! From la puerta, where Abuela likes to wave to the neighbors and wait for packages from Puerto Rico or Spain, to la cocina, where Lucía watches her Mamá turn empty pots into soups and arroces, to el patio, where Lucia and her cousins (and her cousin’s cousins!) put on magic shows, Lucía loves her busy and cozy casa. With warmth and joy, author Laurenne Sala and illustrator Zara González Hoang celebrate home in this bilingual picture book that feels like an abrazo from your most favorite people, your familia.
RUNNERUP
| 2023 Latino Book Award
A must-buy. This book is perfect not only for bilingual readers but also for those seeking to connect more with another language. —School Library Journal (starred review)
This sweet family story will be best enjoyed by readers who speak both Spanish and English, as Lucía uses Spanglish, seamlessly moving back and forth between the two languages. The accompanying illustrations have a charming childlike feel that complements Lucía’s cheer and provides visual context for readers who don’t speak Spanish. Lucía’s family members represents the Latinx community’s racial diversity. A warm family account that will ring true with many Latinx children. —Kirkus Reviews
Lucía lives in a yellow house with her large and loving family, and in Sala and Hoang's warm picture book, readers are invited to walk through her cozy home. . . . Sala and Hoang have created a book that celebrates home, family, and togetherness that will leave readers feeling right at home with Lucía. —Booklist
A celebration of home and family. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Laurenne’s sweet story, written in the perfect mix of Spanish and English is paired with Zara’s bright colors and warm details like lively plants and jars of habichuelas, which make the story and the characters feel relatable and fun. —Las Musas
Laurenne Sala is a children’s books author, storyteller, and poet. Her picture books include You Made Me a Mother, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, and You Made Me a Dad, illustrated by Mike Malbrough. Laurenne Sala lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles.
Zara González Hoang is a children’s author and illustrator. She’s the creator of the picture book ANew Kind of Wild and also illustrated the picture book Thread of Love by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal. About Mi Casa Is My Home, she says, “Drawing Lucía's casa was like drawing my childhood—full of family, fiestas, and food!” Zara González Hoang lives with her family outside of Washington, DC.
Lucia invites you to visit her bustling casa and meet an intergenerational array of loved ones in a charming Spanglish celebration of family life.
Este es el baño . . . It’s where I shave my barba con Abuelo. Bienvenidos to Lucía’s home. Lucía lives in her casa with her big, loud, beautiful familia, and she’s going to show you around! From la puerta, where Abuela likes to wave to the neighbors and wait for packages from Puerto Rico or Spain, to la cocina, where Lucía watches her Mamá turn empty pots into soups and arroces, to el patio, where Lucia and her cousins (and her cousin’s cousins!) put on magic shows, Lucía loves her busy and cozy casa. With warmth and joy, author Laurenne Sala and illustrator Zara González Hoang celebrate home in this bilingual picture book that feels like an abrazo from your most favorite people, your familia.
Awards
RUNNERUP
| 2023 Latino Book Award
Praise
A must-buy. This book is perfect not only for bilingual readers but also for those seeking to connect more with another language. —School Library Journal (starred review)
This sweet family story will be best enjoyed by readers who speak both Spanish and English, as Lucía uses Spanglish, seamlessly moving back and forth between the two languages. The accompanying illustrations have a charming childlike feel that complements Lucía’s cheer and provides visual context for readers who don’t speak Spanish. Lucía’s family members represents the Latinx community’s racial diversity. A warm family account that will ring true with many Latinx children. —Kirkus Reviews
Lucía lives in a yellow house with her large and loving family, and in Sala and Hoang's warm picture book, readers are invited to walk through her cozy home. . . . Sala and Hoang have created a book that celebrates home, family, and togetherness that will leave readers feeling right at home with Lucía. —Booklist
A celebration of home and family. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Laurenne’s sweet story, written in the perfect mix of Spanish and English is paired with Zara’s bright colors and warm details like lively plants and jars of habichuelas, which make the story and the characters feel relatable and fun. —Las Musas
Author
Laurenne Sala is a children’s books author, storyteller, and poet. Her picture books include You Made Me a Mother, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, and You Made Me a Dad, illustrated by Mike Malbrough. Laurenne Sala lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles.
Zara González Hoang is a children’s author and illustrator. She’s the creator of the picture book ANew Kind of Wild and also illustrated the picture book Thread of Love by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal. About Mi Casa Is My Home, she says, “Drawing Lucía's casa was like drawing my childhood—full of family, fiestas, and food!” Zara González Hoang lives with her family outside of Washington, DC.
