A Festa for Luana

PreS-Gr 2–Luana, a young Brazilian American girl with dark hair and brown skin, takes pride in her cultural heritage; her “heart sings in English and Português, red, white, blue, and verde e amarelo.” Luana is eager to visit her grandparents in Brazil—she arrives just in time to celebrate Festa Junina. Luana’s cousins, wearing bright festival dresses, giggle at her American accent and she does not feel Brazilian in her plain Fourth of July dress. As her family prepares for Festa Junina, Luana collects “pretty little details” to embellish her simple dress, but acquires something far more valuable along the way. Oliva’s vivid pastel and colored pencil illustrations blend relaxed strokes of warm cinnamon and maroon, lush emerald and juniper, and vibrant plum and orchid. Endpapers depict journal pages scattered with doodles, stickers, and taped photographs, illustrating Luana’s anticipation of her trip and the new memories she will treasure. Pastro seamlessly integrates Brazilian Portuguese words, which are easily decipherable from context clues for readers not familiar with the language. Back matter offers a supportive glossary in addition to an author’s note on Festa Junina and a cake recipe for bolo de fubá.