Finding My Wave
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 26 May 2026
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- 4,49 €
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- Pre-Order
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- 4,49 €
Publisher Description
Mia finds her bravery and catches her first real wave while surfing with her abuela in this joyful, lyrical picture book that's perfect for summer and for grandparent/grandchild sharing.
One early morning, Mia and her abuela head to the ocean to surf. But Mia's tummy is churning wildly. Will she finally be able to make it past the whitewash? The way the waves are crashing makes her feel very small, and she admits to her grandmother that she's afraid. "It's OK to be scared, mi amor," her abuelita says. "Become friends with your fears and they turn into courage."
And so, with Lita's guidance and a newfound bravery, Mia is finally able to pop to her feet on the board. "¡Wepa!" her abuela cheers as Mia glides through the water, her heart leaping out of her chest. It's unlike anything in the world, and now she's ready to find the next wave and the next.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Katona and Palacios's story of emotional attunement, an intergenerational surfing expedition sees a youth face their anxieties. First-person narration describes a Latinx-cued child and Abuelita's process of preparing to get into the water, as well as the mechanics of catching and riding a wave. Throughout, the protagonist expresses a deep self-awareness, with early text describing the way their anxiety physically feels ("My stomach spins and tumbles, like seaweed in a wave"). As they watch sets of waves roll in, Abuelita's advice reassures ("Become friends with your fears, and they turn into courage"), and centering breathwork around an approaching wave gives the budding surfer the self-assurance necessary to "POP to my feet!" Employing acrylic, gouache, and digital techniques for a mottled texture, vignettes and full-page scenes visualize the character's transformation. This work successfully conjures the way confidence crests through connection with one's feelings. Ages 5–8.
