Publisher: Penguin Workship

Author/Illustrator: Andrea Cruz Floren

Description: Clara visits her abuelo and many, many cousins in California every year. And every year, her family tells tall tales about her abuelo’s orange groves: There’s magic! There’s mischief! There’s monstruos! But Clara’s never been to the orange groves. And she’s determined to change that.

So when her cousins aren’t looking, Clara sneaks into her abuelo’s truck and makes her way to the orange groves. Once Abuelo spots her, he and Clara have a wondrous time serenading oranges, bravely defending the groves against gophers, and eating some delicious tacos with—WHEW—just a little bit of spice.

Soon, Clara has magical tall tales to tell of her own. For she’s no longer just a visitor: She belongs to the groves, and the groves belong to her.

Description provided by Penguin Workshop

Patty's Pick:  Clara lives in the midwest with her parents. When she goes to California to visit family, she wishes that she can go on an adventure with her Abuelo and create the stories she has always longed to do.  The importance of family bonds between a young child and an older grandparent, aunts, and uncles is what drives the importance of sharing this story.