Commentaire descriptif

Young Isabel writes letters to her Auntie Lupita in Mexico to practise her English, since she and her family are moving to the United States. The letters share happy anecdotes of crossing the border, eating in a diner and her first experience of snow. But Isabel experiences stresses too; a refrigerator box provides a soothing hideaway, until it gets ruined in the rain. “I loved how safe I felt in that box! Mother is letting me write this letter under the kitchen table. It isn't the same.” The illustrations depict fashions and furnishings of the 1950s, as well as Mother’s traditional dishware and tablecloth on which she starts a business, cooking for birthday parties. As she helps her mother, Isabel begins to make friends. Children may be surprised by Isabel’s gift request for her own birthday party: she wants everyone to bring their favourite word. Isabel’s word-gifts are a delight: “sunrise, nightingale, twilight and lullaby, but the one I like to say out loud is sycamore.” Children will love poring over the detailed pull-out illustration of the ingenious and colourful quiet place—reminiscent of a Mexican village—that Isabel creates with boxes.