‘Juana and Lucas: Big Problemas’

Fun, engaging story about a young girl, which was based upon author Juana Medina’s childhood in Bogotá, Colombia.

In this series installment, Juana is coping with changes that are brought by her mother's new relationship.

I see this book helping young readers who might face similar circumstances: Juana’s Mami becoming engaged, getting married, and moving the family to a new home.

Some especially nice touches: Juana’s preference for wearing pants instead of dresses is presented as valid.

(“Girls who want to climb trees without scraping their knees and girls who want their legs to be warm would much rather wear pants.”)

Juana’s relationship with her loyal dog, Lucas, is a stable constant in her life, and the book reassures that Mami will never stop being Juana’s mami, even if she does remarry.

I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing “Early Reviewers”