EMERGENCY QUARTERS

A young boy learns the value of a quarter in Matias and Zhang’s beguiling picture book.

It’s Monday and the first day of school. Ready to become a “niño grande,” Ernesto prepares for the walk to school—this time without his parents to accompany him! With his lucky sneakers and favorite Mets cap on, he goes to the door, “feelin’ freshhhh!” But wait! His mom cuts him off, handing him a shiny new quarter for a pay phone in case of an emergency. A kiss goodbye, and Ernesto heads out with his friends. The group stops at Señor José’s bodega, where baseball cards tempt Ernesto. But he refuses to use his quarter. For the entire school week, Ernesto receives an emergency quarter from his mamá each morning and each day refuses sweet temptations such as jugos de frutas and tamales with steadfast determination. “These quarters are for emergencies.” Fittingly, the story ends on an unexpected and delightful note. In his picture-book debut, Matias serves up a playful slice-of-life tale that bubbles with heart and gentle humor. A palpable portrait of community emerges through each named character and local tiendita introduced, guiding readers through Ernesto’s neighborhood. Likewise, Zhang’s gouache, watercolor, and ink artwork is richly dense, with lush colors, angled and wide perspectives, and expressionistic details that conjure a bustling city. Ernesto and his family are Dominican, while the surrounding community demonstrates racial diversity.

A vibrant, bighearted account of a child’s first forays into independence.