Camila the Painting Star

Description: After a classmate tells Camila that her paintings of her abuela are ugly, Camila is heartbroken. Will she quit painting for good?

Brief description: Alicia Salazar is a Mexican American children's book author who has written for blogs, magazines, and education publishers. She was also once an elementary school teacher and a marine biologist. She currently lives in the suburbs of Houston, TX, but is a city girl at heart. When she is not dreaming up new adventures to experience, she is turning her adventures into stories for kids.

Review Quotes: Camila lives with her family and loves to paint pictures of her abuela cooking with love. When a local bakery starts selling her paintings, she is over the moon--until a mean girl tells her they are ugly. Camila must find the confidence to keep painting because she loves it. In another story, ­Camila dreams of becoming una estrella de equitación!--a horseback riding star. She works hard and overcomes her fear of riding a very tall horse to keep learning. Each title features short chapters, simple sentences, and accessible language, making them ideal for young readers. Spanish words and phrases are woven throughout, emphasized in pink, and defined in a glossary at the beginning of each book. Colorful, cartoony illustrations on every page add to the sweetness of the stories. Each book concludes with a recipe, a glossary, and fun thinking activities to reinforce comprehension and engagement. VERDICT This young reader chapter book series is a worthwhile addition to collections, especially where bilingual books are in demand.-- "School Library Journal"