Zapatos rojos de charol

Gr 5 Up—Fun, witty heroines and scenes straight out of fairy tales and science fiction abound in these Spanish-language books from the "Colección Heroínas." In Zapatos rojos de charol, Gema and her family are having a difficult time; Gema's mother is considering selling a precious family heirloom—a pair of lovely red shoes. A beautiful princess named Gina has her own ties to the shoes. With the help of her new, kind friends, Gema discovers that it is important to keep going no matter what. Ana y el plan pegajoso centers on Ana and her best friend Martina, who are wondering about the new boy in school, Mark. With the help of classmate Miligrana, Martina and Ana befriend Mark, but as they begin to visit his home and learn more about his life, they realize that Mark has a few secrets that would be right at home in a sci-fi film. In Lily y sus tías culebras, Lily lives with her two horrid aunts, who take pleasure in making others miserable. Lily finds refuge in the books her father left her and dreams of one day traveling to Africa to see the elephants. Readers discover a strong heroine who despite daily hardships continues to hope for a better future. Told in short chapters and accompanied by black-and-white illustrations, these selections are sure to have young readers laughing as well as wiping away tears. The clear voices of the spirited heroines fill the tales with emotion and positive messages.