Zapatos para Leo

K-Gr 3–Every month, William’s mami and tía Ana put together a special package full of necessities to send to their family back in Cuba. Soap, medicine, and baby food are just some of the items packed carefully inside. On this day, mami and tía Ana give William a special assignment: find shoes that will fit his cousin Leo to pack inside the box. William receives an outline of Leo’s foot and begins to visit family members to ask if they might have shoes that would fit his cousin. Along the way, William discovers Leo loves baseball and drawing, and he has freckles, too, just like William! When no one has shoes that might fit Leo, William feels discouraged, until his abuelo helps him realize that he may know someone who can help Leo after all. This lovely picture book explores the differences that might be present in the lives of those who live in the United States and family members who live in their home country, as well as how families help each other even from a distance. The Spanish text adeptly welcomes readers and introduces William, his family, and their important task. Beautiful pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations bring the work to life, and a touching final illustration shows Leo receiving his new and much-needed shoes with joy. Author and illustrator notes describe their experiences helping families who live far away—the inspiration for this book.