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Each evening Coqui waits for the familiar cry of the Peanut Man—"¡Mani! Peanuts!"—and watches for him to appear on the street below her window. They always greet each other in their own special way—Coqui tucks her thumbs in her ears and sticks out her tongue at Emilio. And Emilio, to her great amusement, does the same in return. Night after night, the two friends continue their ritual.
One evening, Coqui sadly announces, “Nos vamos.” She tells him that they have to leave Cuba. They are going to the United States. Emilio tries to assure her that she will like many things about los Estados Unidos, especially beisbol, her favorite sport. “But don’t forget your friend Emilio,” he says as he walks away. “¡Nunca!” she calls out through tears. She could never forget him.
Coqui and her family arrive in Decatur, Georgia, in the dead of winter to snow-covered ground. Her father seals the windows with duct tape and they await the arrival of spring. Coqui watches for the Peanut Man, but he does not appear.
Several years pass, she learns wobbly English, and becomes a devoted Atlanta Braves fan. She forgets her beloved Peanut Man. Then one day her father surprises her with the perfect birthday gift—two tickets for a Braves game to see their favorite player Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. As they settle into their seats amid the cheering crowds, Coqui hears a man yelling “Peanuts! Get your peanuts!” The delicious smell of roasted peanuts reaches her and memories of home and Emilio rush into her head.
With luminous illustrations by the award-winning artist Raúl Colón, this story of immigration, of being displaced and finding a connection to home, reminds us how much alike we humans are, regardless of culture, color, or creed.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 4, 2025 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781682638330
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Languages
- Spanish; Castilian
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Reviews
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December 1, 2024
K-Gr 2-A young Cuban girl longs for her home after immigrating to the United States in the 1960s. Coqui lives in Havana and has a friendly relationship with the neighborhood's peanuts seller. The two talk every day and greet each other with funny faces. When Coqui's parents move the family to Georgia, she longs for the familiar faces and smells of the home she will never go back to. Through baseball, she gradually feels more at ease, especially as she sees that a man selling peanuts at the stadium reminds her of what she's left behind. With beautiful illustrations and thoughtful text, the book takes readers on a nostalgic journey between countries and memories. The author's note makes the story even more special, because Deedy shares that Coqui's experiences are based on her own. A gentle tale of immigration, relationships, childhood memories, and home. VERDICT A great purchase for libraries serving communities with Cuban immigrants and in need of Spanish books.-Carolina Youssif
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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