Newman, Lesléa

Lesléa Newman is the author of 80 books for readers of all ages, including the memoirs-in-verse I Carry My Mother and I Wish My Father; the YA novel-in-verse October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; and the picture books Here Is The World: A Year of Jewish Holidays, Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story, and As Babies Dream. In her bilingual children’s book Alicia and The Hurricane: A Story of Puerto Rico/Alicia Y El Huracán: Un cuento de Puerto Rico (Children’s Book Press), illustrated by Elizabeth Baez, Newman introduces us to Alicia. After snuggling into bed each night, Alicia listens to the big voices of the tiny coquí frogs that live all around Puerto Rico and sing her to sleep. Ko-kee, ko-kee, ko-kee, ko-kee. Then a terrible hurricane hits Puerto Rico, and Alicia and her family take refuge in a shelter. At bedtime, Alicia hears grown-ups snoring, babies crying, wind howling, and rain pounding. She cannot hear the song of the coquí. Are the little tree frogs safe? And will Alicia and her family find at home after the storm is over? Alicia and the Hurricane is a tender look at the resilience of people and native creatures whose lives have been disrupted by a natural disaster.