Tía Isa Wants a Car
by Meg Medina • Illustrated by Claudio Muñoz
Candlewick Press • 2011 • 32 pages
Hardcover ($15.99)
ISBN: 9780763641566
Ages 4-8
Editor’s note: This book is also available in a Spanish paperback edition titled Tía Isa quiere un carro.
Tía Isa wants a car—and nothing will stop her from saving the money to get it! Tía Isa grew up on an island but now lives in the city. She wants a car to take the family to the beach. But money is tight, and her brother laughs at her for even wanting such a luxury item. Isa and her niece are undaunted; they each work hard to save two piles of money: one to send back to family still on the island, and one for Tía Isa’s car.
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This is certainly a story about the struggles of family separation and financial difficulties, but more importantly, it is the story of Tía Isa, whose bold personality and tenacity make her a strong and loving role model to her niece and readers alike. The expressive text and gentle illustrations in this book are a perfect match, allowing readers to witness this episode in a family’s life unfold, page after page. An excellent choice for reading with elementary age children.
—Review by Katie Cunningham, Library Professional and Blogger, ¡Es Divertido Hablar Dos Idiomas!