Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita - (Mi Hermosa Familia/My Beautiful Family) by Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz (Hardcover)

About the Book

Luna and her little brother, Sol, are out to solve a mystery! They suspect that their grandmother uses magic to create her remedies because she says that she uses a "magic" ingredient. At the beginning of the story Luna and Sol catch colds so their grandmother makes a healing soup. Luna overhears Nana singing a classic Spanish children's song about frog tails while cooking the soup, so Luna secretly thinks that frogs are the magic ingredient. The children explore the enchanted garden in search of frogs until it is time to eat, in which Nana reveals the real secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is?

Book Synopsis

This enchanting story features the mystery of a grandmother's secret recipe, a seek-and-find of healing plants, and bilingual words for young readers.

"Gorgeous artwork on big full pages is lovely to look at, and the limited Spanish vocabulary in the text makes this a good choice for beginners."--Booklist

"This bilingual picture book offering from Chicano and Indigenous author Ruiz follows siblings Luna and Sol as they unravel the secret behind their grandmother's magical remedies."--Publishers Weekly

Luna and her little brother, Sol, are out to solve a mystery! They suspect that their grandmother uses magic to create her remedies because she says that she uses a "magic" ingredient.

At the beginning of the story Luna and Sol catch colds so their grandmother makes a healing soup. Luna overhears Nana singing a classic Spanish children's song about frog tails while cooking the soup, so Luna secretly thinks that frogs are the magic ingredient. The children explore the enchanted garden in search of frogs until it is time to eat, in which Nana reveals the real secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is?

This sweet semi-bilingual story includes a seek-and-find of traditional plants used in curanderismo and includes the recipe for Nana's magic soup!

Written by renowned healer Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita is inspired the author's grandmother, who was a curandera (a traditional healer of Mexican heritage).

First In a New Series: Mi Hermosa Familia: Stories of Four Generations

When a five-year old girl from el barrio (the neighborhood) shares memories of her beautiful family, her rich imagination takes the wheel as she recalls what did--and what almost did--happen. This semi-bilingual series called Mi Hermosa Familia (My Beautiful Family) highlights the small and beautiful moments found throughout Latino communities, told with a dose of magical realism. All books include an interactive seek and find.

About the Author

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller and curandera living in one of the most edible and medicinal landscapes in the world, the Sonoran Desert. Recognized for her work with Indigenous foodways and holistic wellness, Felicia is passionate about sharing food and lifestyle as medicine across many platforms. Her award-winning book Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera, has received praise from industry leaders including Padma Lakshmi, Dana Cowin, and Darin Olien. Felicia's work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Forbes, Bon Appétit, The List television news magazine, and several other media outlets including The Original Americans episode on Padma Lakshmi's Taste The Nation (Hulu). Felicia presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty for nonprofits, universities, and museums-including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Carlos Vélez Aguilera was born in Mexico City in 1980. He is a graduate of the National School of Plastic Arts of the National University Autonomous of Mexico and has been a professional illustrator for 12 years. He lives in Mexico City.