New Shoes for Leo - Hardcover

by Lauren Agra Deedy (Author), Susan Gal (Illustrator)

Debut Cuban-American author Lauren Agra Deedy and award-winning artist Susan Gal join forces in this charming, heartfelt picture book story about an immigrant family--and their love and caring for family they left behind.

* "Jubilant. . . exuberant . . . energetic." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

William's Mami and his Tía Ana are busy packing a big box of food, medicine, and clothing to mail to their family living in Cuba.

But something important is missing.

They have no zapatos, no shoes, to send Cousin Leo!

"Which cousin is Leo?" William asks.

Tía Ana answers him with a thin paper tracing of Leo's footprint. She nudges him out the door to find someone in the family with spare shoes in Leo's size. But finding shoes for Leo is not as easy as it seems.

With warmth and tenderness, Lauren Agra Deedy and Susan Gal have created a rich, colorful story of a tight-knit family -- and the love that grows as they care for those living far away.

Author Biography

Lauren Agra Deedy graduated from Emory University before receiving her MPhil in Literatures of the Americas from Trinity College in Dublin. Like William in the story, Lauren is the child and grandchild of refugees, and grew up helping them make care packages for family still living in communist Cuba. New Shoes for Leo is her picture book debut. Lauren lives with her husband and family in Atlanta, Georgia.

Susan Gal was a member of the original animation team at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando (the only woman!). Her celebrated books include Awe!, an Amazon Editor's Pick, and The Tower of Life, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and a Robert F. Sibert Honor, both by Chana Stiefel. She also illustrated the acclaimed No More Chairs by Dan Gill, New Shoes for Leo by Lauren Agra Deedy, and Joyful Song and Welcoming Elijah, both by Lesléa Newman. She lives in Berkeley, California. Visit her online at galgirlstudio.com.