(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro. Our young narrator, who shares a bedroom with a snoring older sister, is jealous of the guests who get to sleep on the cot in her family's living room overlooking the George Washington Bridge. "It would be so much fun to have the whole living room to myself! I'd stay up late and play, look at the tiny cars outside, maybe watch TV and sneak into the kitchen for an extra cookie or a little dulce de leche." Instead, a girl named Raquel ("Boring. She never plays with me") gets the cot while her father works the hospital night shift; on another night, Edgardo gets it while his mom, a singer, performs until 3 a.m.; and little Lisa has a turn while her grandmother cleans offices. "It's not fair" is the protagonist's refrain, with added resentment about having to share her ­parents' attention. After her own longed-for night on the cot proves less than thrilling, and even a little bit scary, she gains empathy for the guests and reacts with kindness. "It's Wednesday and Raquel's dad is working the night shift again, so she has to sleep on the cot in the living room. All by herself. She must really miss him. It's not fair." She invites the girl into her shared bedroom, cot and all. And though the space is tight, "the cot fits perfectly. And so does Raquel." D'Alessandro's pastel-hued digital illustrations feature soothing patterns and motifs, some of them compiled on endpapers resembling a quilt. Burgos's story is effective in its specificity to one child's experiences--and in the highly relatable emotions and reactions common to many young kids.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 4-6 Achievement runs in twelve-year-old Miosotis's Dominican family: her father is a physics professor, her brother Jacinto is a track star and straight-A student, and her sister Amarilis attends a prestigious university. School is not Miosotis's forte, but improving her grades is the only way to persuade Papi to let her adopt a dog. (Her well-intentioned siblings and best friends offer to help but bypass her genuine efforts and end up doing the work for her.) Her favorite diversion is helping her neighbor Gina, who fosters rescue dogs, walking and socializing them, allowing Miosotis to demonstrate her commitment to pet parenting. Her priorities shift when she discovers that her sister, who has become increasingly distant and unreliable, is being abused by her fiancé. Burgos's explorations of social issues--also including racial profiling and colorism--are well incorporated, without overburdening the narrative. In Miosotis, she crafts a character who is thoughtful and true to herself, creating a satisfying story arc in which the protagonist determines her own potential. The book's message will reassure readers who find themselves overshadowed by siblings' achievements--or overwhelmed by their troubles--and who face pressure to live up to the expectations of others.

Reviewer: Jessica Agudelo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) 4-6 Ana María Reyes is determined to earn a scholarship spot at the top private school in New York City. But it's not easy to prepare for her piano audition while living in a small Bronx apartment with a large (and still-growing!) family. A trip to her parents' native Dominican Republic puts things in perspective. A warm family story full of heart and humor.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin