About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is feeling overlooked, struggling with family instability, or asking questions about why some children have to work. This gentle chapter book follows seven year old Juan, who lives with his grandmother in Guatemala after being abandoned by his parents. Despite his hardships, Juan works hard as a shoeshine boy while dreaming of going to school. It is a profound story about resilience and finding a sense of belonging within your own community. Parents will appreciate how this book handles difficult realities like poverty and parental abandonment with grace and hope. It is perfectly suited for children ages 7 to 10 who are starting to notice social inequalities or who need a mirror for their own non-traditional family structures. Ultimately, Juan's journey teaches that the most beautiful place in the world is not a physical location, but anywhere you are truly seen and loved.
