Esperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena

Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
8.94"W x 11.31"H x 0.36"D  
On sale Sep 12, 2023 | 40 Pages | 978-0-593-48867-6
| Up to Kindergarten
Reading Level: Lexile AD700L | Fountas & Pinnell M
A festive nochebuena treat for little ones who believe in the magic of Christmas (and the deliciousness of cake)!

On the night before Christmas, a spark of magic lights up Lita's Pastelería, and Esperanza Caramelo blinks open her eyes. Esperanza is a spun-sugar ornament, meant to sit atop the Nochebuena cake—but tonight she whirls through the bakery, singing and dancing, throwing a fiesta with all the other ornaments until . . . disaster strikes! 

Can the cake be saved in time for Christmas? The clock is ticking, but on Nochebuena, anything is possible—and Esperanza never gives up hope.
Karla Arenas Valenti is the author of many books for children of all ages. She grew up in Mexico City in a house that was built around a tree and surrounded by magic (which has stayed with her long into her adult years). Her storytelling is seeded in Mexican culture and lore, and often deals in explorations of philosophical and identity-based themes (inspiring the mind) while also taking readers on riveting magical realist adventures (inspiring the heart). She currently resides in the Chicagoland area. View titles by Karla Arenas Valenti
"Valenti whips up a delectable tale of whimsical enchantment, with Spanish sprinkled throughout....Like a dash of sweetened wishes." —Kirkus Reviews

"Richly ­illustrated with vibrant colors, this picture book is sure to please." —School Library Journal

"The sweet backgrounds are full of delicious and delightful clues and plenty of other details to keep readers invested as they root for this unlikely heroine." —Booklist

"This book is sure to satisfy any reader’s sweet tooth." —The Horn Book
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

A festive nochebuena treat for little ones who believe in the magic of Christmas (and the deliciousness of cake)!

On the night before Christmas, a spark of magic lights up Lita's Pastelería, and Esperanza Caramelo blinks open her eyes. Esperanza is a spun-sugar ornament, meant to sit atop the Nochebuena cake—but tonight she whirls through the bakery, singing and dancing, throwing a fiesta with all the other ornaments until . . . disaster strikes! 

Can the cake be saved in time for Christmas? The clock is ticking, but on Nochebuena, anything is possible—and Esperanza never gives up hope.

Author

Karla Arenas Valenti is the author of many books for children of all ages. She grew up in Mexico City in a house that was built around a tree and surrounded by magic (which has stayed with her long into her adult years). Her storytelling is seeded in Mexican culture and lore, and often deals in explorations of philosophical and identity-based themes (inspiring the mind) while also taking readers on riveting magical realist adventures (inspiring the heart). She currently resides in the Chicagoland area. View titles by Karla Arenas Valenti

Praise

"Valenti whips up a delectable tale of whimsical enchantment, with Spanish sprinkled throughout....Like a dash of sweetened wishes." —Kirkus Reviews

"Richly ­illustrated with vibrant colors, this picture book is sure to please." —School Library Journal

"The sweet backgrounds are full of delicious and delightful clues and plenty of other details to keep readers invested as they root for this unlikely heroine." —Booklist

"This book is sure to satisfy any reader’s sweet tooth." —The Horn Book

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more