''Tía Isa Wants a Car'' is a 2011 illustrated children's book by Cuban-American author
Meg Medina
Meg Medina is an American children’s book author of Cuban descent whose books celebrate Latino culture and the lives of young people. She is the 2023 – 2024 National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. Medina is the recipient of the 2 ...
. It was first published on 14 June 2011 through
Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press, established in 1992 and located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is part of the Walker Books group. The logo depicting a bear carrying a candle is based on Walker Books's original logo.
Sebastian Walker launched Walker Books from ...
and has won the 2012
Ezra Jack Keats New Writers Award.
The book focuses on the title character of Isa, a young woman that wants to save money towards a new car while also thinking of family in other countries that could also use the money.
Synopsis
The book follows the character of Tía (Aunt) Isa, a young immigrant woman that works in a bakery, and is narrated through the viewpoint of her niece, to whom Tía Isa tells tales of her former home and her desire for their family members to join them. Tía Isa is saving her money towards purchasing a beautiful green car that she can use to drive herself and her niece to the beach, but this is difficult to do when she has to send much of her money home to help her family reach North America. Try as hard as she might, both goals seem like they will take an extremely long amount of time to come to fruition and Tía Isa's niece begins to secretly raise funds by taking on several jobs throughout the neighborhood.
Reception
Critical reception for ''Tía Isa Wants a Car'' has been positive, and the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' commented that the desired car "represents a dream achieved". A reviewer for the ''Daily Herald'' praised the book for showing how saving money can make a difference as well as focusing on the message of familial love.
Awards
*''Ezra Jack Keats New Writers Award'' (2012, won)
*''Notable Children's Book'' (2012, YALSA)
*The Amelia Bloomer Book List (2012)
References
External links
*
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2011 children's books
American picture books