In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra dreams of going to college and becoming a writer.

But with her beloved father dead, two younger siblings to care for, and with a stepmother struggling to make ends meet, Petra has to drop out of school to shell pecans at a factory. Hoping it's only temporary, she tries not to despair over the grueling work conditions. But after the unhealthy environment leads to tragedy and workers' already low wages are cut, Petra knows things need to change. She and her coworkers go on strike for higher wages and safer conditions, risking everything they have for the hope of a better future.

Heart-warming and enraging in equal parts, this important American story reveals the power of family, community, and hope.--Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author

Durante la Gran Depresión, la familia de Ernestine Guerrero no tenía mucho.

La adolescente estadounidense de origen mexicano estaba tan agradecida por la ayuda alimentaria que el gobierno enviaba a San Antonio, Texas, que deseaba expresarle personalmente su gratitud al presidente Roosevelt. Pero cómo? Después de ver los planos de un proyecto muy difícil para crear en madera, decidió que lo haría ella misma y se lo enviaría al presidente. Pieza a pieza, eso fue exactamente lo que hizo. Y la caja de reloj que construyó continúa en exhibición en la Biblioteca Presidencial Roosevelt hasta hoy en día.

Con maravillosas ilustraciones de Anna López Real, este libro ilustrado relata la inspiradora historia verdadera de una chica que demostró que, si observas con atención, pueden encontrarse tesoros en lugares inesperados.

During the Great Depression, Ernestine Guerrero's family didn't have much. The Mexican American teen was so grateful for the government food aid they received in San Antonio, Texas, that she wanted to personally thank President Roosevelt. But how? After seeing the plans for a very difficult woodworking project, she decided she would make it herself and send it to the president. Piece by piece, that's exactly what she did. And the clock case she built remains on display in the Roosevelt Presidential Library to this day.

This picture book tells the inspiring true story of a girl who proved that if you look closely, treasure can be found in unexpected places. Now in Spanish!

During the Great Depression, Ernestine Guerrero's family didn't have much.

The Mexican American teen was so grateful for the government food aid they received in San Antonio, Texas, that she wanted to personally thank President Roosevelt. But how? After seeing the plans for a very difficult woodworking project, she decided she would make it herself and send it to the president. Piece by piece, that's exactly what she did. And the clock case she built remains on display in the Roosevelt Presidential Library to this day.

With stunning illustrations from Anna López Real, this picture book tells the inspiring true story of a girl who proved that if you look closely, treasure can be found in unexpected places.

It was so hot in Caliente, Texas, that the townspeople couldn't stay cool. Swinging on the front porch with her mother, Elena has an idea. Raspas--icy cold snow cones--are just what the neighbors need. And she can make and sell them from her own front yard So with the help of her parents, Elena soon has a stand and the items needed to make the snow cones. Before long everyone is lining up to buy them in delicious flavors.

Elena's best friend Alma watches her friend's success from across the street and decides to start her own snow cone stand. And so begins the battle of the snow cones, with each girl devising ever more elaborate plans to attract clients. The girls' ice shaving machines furiously crank out raspas, until one day both machines go bonkers

Readers will enjoy the girls' clever antics to attract customers in this lively, colorful picture book for children. And just as important, children will learn, along with Elena and Alma, that competitors can still be friends.

Lupita is excited about dancing la raspa, a Mexican folk dance, with her first-grade class at a celebration of Children's Day. But she's devastated when she learns right before the show that her partner Ernesto sprained his right ankle.

She had been practicing for weeks. And now her family won't get to see her, swishing and swaying in her beautiful dress full of colorful ribbons. Lupita sadly watches the other dancers from backstage behind the blue velvet curtain. But suddenly, she finds herself on stage, in the spot where she and Ernesto should have been. She begins to dance the routine she knows so well, holding her arms out to an imaginary partner, and almost flees when the audience laughs at her.

But the sight of her mother encourages her to be brave. She continues the dance, becoming the star of the show at least in the eyes of her proud teacher and parents.

One day, a terrible thunderstorm knocked down the giant mesquite tree that grew in the town square. After the storm, the townspeople gathered to gawk at the large obstruction blocking the street. They weren't sure what to do with it, but they all agreed that the wood was good for nothing except a fire. But the woodcutter Tomas sees something in the huge tree that the rest of the townsfolk don't. The beauty of this tree is not on the outside but on the inside. Tomas tells them. In the following days, everyone watches curiously as the woodcutter carves and chips and whittles the wood into blocks. At one point, he moves the chunks into his shed, increasing everyone's curiosity. What could the woodcutter be doing with all that lumber? Finally, Tomas calls the townsfolk together to see his creations: a wonderful collection of life-sized animals for the children to enjoy. Children and adults alike are thrilled with their private zoo But a few weeks later the woodcutter is visited by strangers from a folk art museum who want to buy the pieces for their collection. Will Tomas sell the town's new zoo animals so that others can enjoy them too?

Estella can't help but giggle when she sees her neighbors, Dona Rosa and Dona Maria, shaking their hips while dancing and sweating at an exercise class at the community recreation center. A few days later, when her mother complains about gaining weight, Estella encourages her to join the class.

Every day after school, Estella enjoys watching the women dance to the rhythmic music. And she's especially thrilled when the instructor invites her to join them in dancing salsa.

But one day, kids are banned from the class, and Estella is forced to go to a boring crafts class instead. She'd much rather be dancing So when Estella learns that women had to fight to gain the right to vote, she decides she'll petition for kids' rights to enjoy salsa dance classes at the community center

In this bilingual picture books for children ages 5-9, a young girl learns that dancing is good for fun and fitness, and that even kids can change the way things are done.