My Abuela Is a Bruja

by Mayra Cuevas, Lorena Alvarez Gómez (Illustrator)

Overview

From an award-winning author comes a vibrant and heartwarming story of the bond between grandmother and grandchild, with a touch of Puerto Rican magic!

My abuela is a bruja.
There is magic in everything she does.

There is nothing more magical than a grandmother's love. But one lucky girl suspects her grandmother has actual magic. It's in the tun-tun-tun of the way she dances salsa, in the warmth of her hugs, and the delicious smell of her cooking. The granddaughter wonders: will I have magic of my own one day?

Follow the magic in this heartfelt picture book that features extensive backmatter that includes two special recipes from Mayra Cuevas and uplifiting illustrations from Lorena Alvarez Gómez.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593480656
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/12/2025
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mayra Cuevas is the author of the young adult novel Does My Body Offend You? (co-written with Marie Marquardt), long-listed for the prestigious PEN/Faulkner Award, named a 2023 Book All Young Georgians Should Read, and a New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2022. In 2023, she was named Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult category. Mayra has also written the YA foodie romcom Salty, Bitter, Sweet named a Best Book of Winter by Hypable. She lives in Atlanta with her family.

Lorena Alvarez Gómez is an Eisner Award nominated freelance illustrator and artist. She has made illustrations for children’s books like The Magical Yet, Marsha is Magnetic, The City Tree, and Hicotea. Her work has also been featured in independent publications, advertising and fashion magazines. Lorena works from her home studio in Bogota, Colombia.

Editorial Reviews

★ "This book is a resounding triumph, where heritage, family, nature, history, and love come together." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Cuevas’ writing carries a richness equal to the illustrations, with turns of phrase that capture the imagination that make the mundane miraculous." —The Bulletin, starred review

"A heartfelt tribute to family, culture, and the everyday magic that connects us." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-05-16
A child and her abuela spend cherished time together.

The girl affectionately calls her grandmother a bruja—a witch—because of the magic that seems to infuse her every activity. Whether growing a garden rife with “rich beds of yuca” or whipping up flan that tastes of “sugary kisses and caramel dreams,” Abuela performs each task with such confidence and grace that witchcraft seems the only possible explanation. Eager to uncover Abuela’s secrets, the girl pays close attention to everything she does; she longs to discover her own magic, but Abuela gently counsels patience. She reveals that magic has always been within her, passed down through generations from their Taíno ancestors. Slowly, the girl begins to understand. Cuevas and Alvarez Gómez beautifully capture the tender bond between grandmother and granddaughter, set against the vibrant backdrop of Puerto Rico. Melodic language blends with illustrations bursting with color and detail, such as reinitas (black and yellow birds) and the güiro (a traditional Puerto Rican instrument). Tastes, sounds, scents, and feelings come alive on every page; this is a tale that celebrates cultural heritage and encourages readers to find magic in the quotidian. Abuela is brown-skinned with curly black-and-gray hair, while her granddaughter has light brown skin and curly black hair. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish.

A heartfelt tribute to family, culture, and the everyday magic that connects us. (glossary, recipes)(Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews