THE FIESTA DRESS

Everyone is busy getting ready for Eva’s important quinceañera celebration, while younger sister, Lolo, once the lovable baby of the family, feels ignored. When she accidentally lets their scruffy mutt run out of the laundry room and down the street with the sash to Eva’s gown clenched between his teeth, hysteria interrupts the preparations. Lolo boldly finds a way to save the dress, the day’s festivities and her appreciated status in the family by engineering a tamale exchange with the pup. But it is Eva who is most grateful to her little sister, who feels pride and happiness on this special day. Muted acrylics and watercolors reflect a brown-skinned, rotund and cheerful extended Latino family, with tíos decorating, apron-covered tías cooking and primos (cousins) playing video games in multicolored clothes. Lolo’s first-person narration includes key Spanish words as she recounts the joy and frenzy of the milestone birthday. A well-defined glossary includes a succinct explanation of the quinceañera observance. (Picture book. 5-7)