After moving from a small village in Mexico to a town in the United States, Eduardo is sure it will never feel quite like home. The other children don’t speak his language and they do not play fútbol. His family promises him that he will feel right at home by the time Christmas comes along, when “your words float like clouds from your mouth” and “trees will ride on cars.” With whimsical imagery and a sprinkling of Spanish vocabulary, Gretchen Griffith takes readers on a multicultural journey with Eduardo who discovers the United States is not so different from Latin America and home is wherever the family is.
My Review:
This is a different type of Christmas story. The beginning of the story starts in September and ends in Christmas. Eduardo doesn’t want to move away from his hometown in Mexico. He misses playing futbol (soccer) with his friends. Everything in America seems difficult and strange. As the book progresses Eduardo realizes that he loves many things about America. Still, it won’t feel like home until he can set up his families nativity. I love that this book is honest and real. Most children do not feel comfortable when they first come to the United States. I loved that Eduardo takes his experiences day by day. The text in this story encourages readers to consider how people from other countries may view Christmas away from home. The illustrations are warm and draw readers into Eduardo’s emotions. This is a perfect story to read around the holidays.
Ages 5 and up
32 Pages
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