About This Book
Reach for this book when your child has made a mistake they are too afraid to admit, or when you want to celebrate the warmth of family traditions. It is the perfect choice for navigating the heavy weight of 'secret' guilt and the anxiety of potential punishment. The story follows Maria, who accidentally loses her mother's diamond ring in a batch of Christmas tamales and tries to fix the problem by eating her way through them with her cousins. While the plot centers on a moment of panic, the underlying themes are rooted in family love, honesty, and the realization that mistakes don't diminish your place in the circle of family. Gary Soto captures the high stakes of childhood errors with humor and heart, making it an excellent bridge for discussing integrity. This is a gentle, culturally rich story ideal for children ages 4 to 8 who are learning that coming clean is always better than hiding the truth.
