Un cerezo

K-Gr 3–Yuki loves to look up at the stars through his telescope; he also loves to count the freckles on neighbor and friend Gea’s face. They both love the snowy cherry trees in the garden their houses share. When Gea accidentally eats a cherry pit from her birthday cake, her freckles begin to disappear, but just as suddenly, Gea begins to become larger and larger. She befriends a small bird who often visits her, and as time goes on and Gea grows bigger, the doctor finds that a cherry tree is growing inside of her. Surprisingly, the little bird who visits her is there too. Wanting to save the bird’s life, Gea allows herself to be released to float away, where she is now a new planet covered with white flowers and a large cherry tree that holds many birds. Yuki sees the planet through his telescope, and he can see her freckles in the night sky. Magical, luminous illustrations bring to life this breathtaking story of friendship. The lyrical Spanish text conveys the simplicity of their friendship while also presenting a deep look at how children process things that are greater than ourselves. This tale can be read as a child’s first experience with death, a friend moving away, or a fantastical story.