Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey

A poignant multicultural ode to family and what it means to create a home as one girl helps her Tía move away from her beloved Miami apartment.

When Estrella's Tía Fortuna has to say goodbye to her longtime Miami apartment building, The Seaway, to move to an assisted living community, Estrella spends the day with her. Tía explains the significance of her most important possessions from both her Cuban and Jewish culture, as they learn to say goodbye together and explore a new beginning for Tía.

A lyrical book about tradition, culture, and togetherness, Tía Fortuna's New Home explores Tía and Estrella's Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. Through Tía's journey, Estrella will learn that as long as you have your family, home is truly where the heart is.

Author: Ruth Behar
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: 01/25/2022
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 11.20h x 8.90w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780593172414
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 11/01/2021
Booklist 12/01/2021 pg. 58
Kirkus Reviews 12/15/2021
School Library Journal 01/28/2022 pg. 1
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2022 pg. 114

About the Author
Ruth Behar is an acclaimed author of adult fiction and nonfiction, and Lucky Broken Girl - winner of the Pura Belpre Award -- is her first book for young readers. She was born in Havana, Cuba, grew up in New York, and has also lived and worked in Spain and Mexico. Her honors include a MacArthur Genius Award, a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Senior Fellowship, and a Distinguished Alumna Award from Wesleyan University.

Devon Holzwarth is an illustrator and writer of picture books full of warmth and charm. She grew up in Panama with the jungle as her garden and parrots and iguanas as pets. Childhood memories and her collection of vintage children's books strongly inspire her work. Devon earned her BFA in 2000 from the Rhode Island School of Design focusing on screen printing and painting and afterwards lived in California painting murals around the Bay Area, and working for a children's publication. After having two children and moving to Germany, Devon discovered she was an illustrator and had stories to tell. She currently lives in Aachen with her husband, kids, and beloved old hound dog. Learn more at devonholzwarth.com.