ABUELITA'S GIFT

A young Latine girl and her family prepare for a Día de los Muertos celebration.

Julieta had a special bond with Abuelita, who has recently died. Día de los Muertos is approaching, and Julieta and her family will add mementos to the ofrenda, an altar with offerings for ancestors. Julieta wants to find a special gift for Abuelita that will let her spirit know that she is dearly missed. But her attempts at weaving a flower crown and folding an origami bird just don’t work. Julieta becomes nervous: What if she doesn’t have anything to place on the ofrenda in time for the holiday? Then she thinks about the times when she and Abuelita were happiest and remembers that they shared their biggest smiles when they were dancing together. She brings out her dancing shoes, dress, lace fan, and hair combs—shelved since Abuelita’s passing—and dances for the family. Julieta feels her grandmother’s presence and knows that she and Abuelita will always stay connected. Ríos Ramírez speaks to the complex emotions surrounding loss, while Palacios’ earth-toned illustrations, made with gouache, cut paper, and Photoshop, have a quietly intimate feeling. Her textured backgrounds are immersive, while the characters are wonderfully expressive. Young readers experiencing their own grief will see themselves in Julieta and her desire to remember Abuelita.

A touching tribute to the pain of losing a loved one—and the joys of honoring them.