Churro Stand: A Picture Book

by Karina N. Gonzalez, Krystal Quiles (Illustrator)

Overview

From award-winning author-illustrator duo Karina N. Gonzálezand Krystal Quiles comes Churro Stand, a heartwarming picture book celebrating love, community, and the POP, SIZZLE, and CRUNCH of a perfect churro—inspired by the author’s relationship with her own mother.

Everybody loves churros!

On a hot summer’s day, Lucía and her brother accompany their mother to sell delicious, sugary churros on the bustling streets of New York City. But when a thunderstorm rolls in, and the customers are chased away, Lucía’s mother must improvise with a little bit of magic and lots of amor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951836955
Publisher:	Cameron Kids
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Karina N. González is a bilingual speech-language pathologist at an elementary school in Brooklyn, where she uses storytelling as a tool for language development with her students. She is also the author of The Coquies Still Sing, for which she received a Pura Belpré Author Honor.
Krystal Quiles is originally from the Bronx, now working as a freelance illustrator based in Brooklyn. She received a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for her work on The Coquies Still Sing.

Editorial Reviews

03/11/2024

In a mother-centered tribute from González, young Lucía narrates how Mamá starts the day before sunrise as she makes enough churros (each “destined for a hungry belly”) to fill a gigantic suitcase. The two and sibling Santiago take the subway across N.Y.C.’s East River and to Union Square, where Mama picks up her pushcart—“a shiny metallic chariot”—greets other vendors, and begins selling. To attract customers on the hot day (“We should be selling ice cream,” Santiago mumbles), the siblings draw sidewalk-chalk arrows directing passers-by, but a sudden rainstorm dampens sales until collaborative effort turns the day around. Quiles’s gouache and acrylic illustrations depict a sunlit city whose fragrant smells are imagined as sparkles and swirls, and whose experiences are true to life. Delving into family history (“Our abuelita Caren had a churro stand too”), this bustling metropolitan story highlights many modes of cooperation and love. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note, call to action, and limited Spanish glossary conclude. A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 5–7. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"This tale of a small business succeeding is bolstered by illustrations that use perspective to create an almost 3-D effect that makes the action feel immediate and intimate. Spotlighting the power of community, this sweet (pun intended) story is warm and welcoming."—Kirkus

"Delving into family history, this bustling metropolitan story highlights many modes of cooperation and love."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-01-20
Lucía and Santiago help their mother sell delicious fried pastry sticks on the streets of New York City.

Lucía, who narrates, helps Mamá make treats that will be covered in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate sauce. Mamá rolls a suitcase filled with churros as the family travels to Manhattan, where they’ll sell their wares from a pushcart. Mamá joins a diverse community of street vendors who run newsstands and sell a variety of items. Ice cream proves more popular on this hot day, so the children draw sidewalk chalk directions to lure customers to the stand; after a storm washes away the chalk, Mamá joins forces with the ice cream vendor to create delicious churro sundaes. This tale of a small business succeeding is bolstered by illustrations that use perspective to create an almost 3-D effect that makes the action feel immediate and intimate. Spotlighting the power of community, this sweet (pun intended) story is warm and welcoming. An appended glossary defines Spanish terms used in the book, though the tale's first two words—crujido and estallido—are omitted. The family is cued Latine. In an author’s note, González discusses how the many women who sell churros in subway stations in New York City, as well as her own hardworking mother, inspired the narrative.

Crackles and pops like the confections at the center of this story. (photograph, list of street vendor advocacy groups) (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews