With Lots of Love

In Torres Sanchez’s picture book debut, young Rocio moves from an unspecified Central American country to the U.S. There, she’s no longer able to appreciate her abuela’s tortillas and piñatas, nor visit the small grocery store “where her grandmother sold fresh fruits and/ vegetables, pan dulce, and ice pops.” In lyrical text, Rocio reminisces on all the things she misses, from Abuela’s honey-drizzled buñelos to gazing at the night sky to “the pretty song of her language.” When Rocio receives a package from Abuela, though, she learns how to send and receive love, even from afar (“Rocio blew Abuela a good-night kiss” that lands “back home, on Abuela’s cheek”). Ceolin’s striking, pattern-rich illustrations and vibrant color palette complement sensory-oriented text (“The smell of spicy peppers and burnt sugar danced in her nose. And Abuela’s gentle voice danced in her ears”), integrating details that visually join Rocio’s previous life to her new home in a touching story about intergenerational love and connection. Most characters are portrayed with light brown skin. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)