  | Emilia wishing Author: Medina, Belen | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Emilia wishes for new clothes and nicer things, but a layaway purchase at a thrift store helps her see the strength of her mother's love.
| Illustrator: | Mora, Magdalena |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/26)
Booklist (06/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Publishers Weekly - 05/04/2026 A child’s material wants drive this moving tale from Medina and Mora. Waking up and preparing for the day, young Emilia wishes for her own bed rather than the one she shares, sugary breakfast cereal instead of toasted tortillas, and more. The pattern continues as the Latinx-cued family shops at a big-box store for clothes ("a treat compared to the hand-me-downs she usually wears") and Emilia’s mama puts the pared-down pile on layaway. In pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and ink, real-life scenes are tinged with saturated blues and greens, while bright pinks and yellows accompany hoped-for objects and situations. A long-awaited return to the store-and the sight of Emilia’s hardworking mother, relieved and joyful at having made her final payment-results in a perspective-shifting narrative that acknowledges, and appreciates, a mother’s devotion. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. (June) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2026 Emilia, a young girl from a modest family, longs for her own bed, a new car, and a big house with a large lawn. When her family shops at the run-down strip mall, Emilia canā€™t help but yearn for the fancy mall across town. Even so, trying on clothes there feels like a rare treat compared to her usual hand-me-downs. She longs for all the outfits she models for her mama and sisters, but alas, they must whittle down their selections to a small pile, which goes on layaway. Month after month, Emilia waits as mama works tirelessly until, finally, the last payment is made. Smiling at the new clothes and her beautiful, beaming mama, Emilia realizes she couldnā€™t wish for more. Textured illustrations rendered in pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and ink capture Emiliaā€™s disappointments, desires, and joyful discovery of gratitude. She and her family are depicted with brown skin, and Spanish occasionally appears in the dialogue and background scenes of the town. A heartwarming story about family, love, and the riches that money cannot buy. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
