Juana y Lucas: Muchos cambios (Juana and Lucas)

Juana and Lucas #3

by Juana Medina, Eida Del Risco (translator)

When she learns that Mami is expecting a baby, Juana finds a way to rise to the occasion (despite a few stumbles at skating camp!) in a third episode filled with humor and warmth.

I agree with my abuelos--I think I will be a VERY good older hermana. Even when I am not the most patient human being on earth. . . .

Juana's life in Bogotá, Colombia, is just about perfect. Every now and then a big problema comes along--like having to learn English or Juana's mami getting remarried--but things eventually settle down, and life goes back to feeling pretty perfect again. But then Mami springs two new sorpresas on Juana. One: Juana will be spending her school break going to skating camp instead of relaxing (even though she doesn't know how to skate!). Two: Mami is going to have a baby! How can one Juana-size person possibly handle SO. MANY. CHANGES? The answer: with the gentle love of Mami and Luis, the guidance of Juana's abuelos, the sympathy of newfound friends, the ready ear of her furry amigo Lucas, and Juana's own expansive heart.

Genres: Family, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Latinx, Childrens, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She is the illustrator of Smick! by Doreen Cronin and the author-illustrator of One Big Salad. Juana Medina has studied and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and now teaches at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Margaret Farrell]

Leyendo libros de niños en español.

[Barbara]

With the same charm and heart that the previous two titles featuring Juana have, author/illustrator returns to this young protagonist who lives in Bogota, Columbia in this chapter book for young readers. In this book, Juana is growing used to life with Luis, her mother's new husband. But if there's anything certain about life, it's that life is full of changes. In Juana's case, one of the changes involves learning to roller skate. Luis and her mother have enrolled her in a skating camp where she faces challenges, injures her chin, but also makes new friends and gains confidence. The other change involves a new addition to her family. Her mother is expecting a baby, and must get plenty of bed rest so the fetus can grow. Juana's not sure she wants a newborn in her house as she's heard quite a few negative things about babies from her friends. But when the baby arrives prematurely, Juana is excited and ready to be a big sister. While much of this territory has been covered in other children's books, there is a warmth and humor in the telling of this one that will appeal to young readers, many of whom will see their own experiences mirrored in Juana's. The sprinkling of Spanish within the English text and the love Juana has for Lucas, her faithful dog, add to the book's appeal as do the crisp ink and watercolor illustrations. Sometimes they brought a smile to my lips as I read about Juana sharing her events of the day with Lucas, who she considers to be a good listener, while he's snoozing away. Although there are muchos changes in Juana's life, clearly, she's capable of handling them just fine.

[Jessica Stransky]

This book was recommended to me by my professor, Dr. Quiroa. Juana is a young girl and Lucas is her dog and best friend. In this book, her mom tells her that she is having a baby so Juana will have a new sibling. At first she isn't thrilled about having a new sibling but throughout the story, her feelings change. I thought this story was adorable and loved the language and diagrams throughout. Juana Medina uses some Spanish which is understood by context clues and pictures. I also thought the use of a few diagrams with captions made the book different and fun to read. I think this would be a great book for parents to introduce what things will change when a new baby comes into their dynamic as well as introducing some Spanish into an English speaking student's life.

[Dawn]

I love this series so much!

[Eliza]

cute book

[Alex Baugh]

I've read the previous two Juana & Lucas books, Juana & Lucas and Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas, a number of times to my young readers and they love the stories. So naturally, when I heard about Juana & Lucas: Muchos Changes, I knew it was time to revisit this favorite young South American girl and her faithful dog.

You may recall that Juana had a big surprise when her Mami told her that she and Luis were to be married. Juana wasn't very excited about it at first, but it has all worked out and now, she really likes living with him and Mami in there new apartment in Bogotá, Colombia. And now, Mami has another surprise for Juana - she and Luis are having a baby and Juana is going to be a big sister. Juana isn't very excited about the baby, but she is excited to be on her school break, weeks of reading, resting, exploring and playing with best furry friend Lucas, visiting her abuelos and her Tia Cris, maybe even some sleepovers. Or maybe not.

Mami and Luis have bought Juana a pair of skates and signed her up for skating camp and she is determined not to like it. But when Mami asks her to try skating camp at least five times, Juana agrees. At camp, she worries about not knowing anyone but after taking a bad spill, at break the other kids in the beginner group share their snacks with Juana and maybe, just maybe they will be her new amigos.

But when Luis picks Juana up from camp instead of Mami, she learns that there is a complication in her mother's pregnancy and she must stay in bed until the baby is born. As her school break continues, Juana and her new amigos get better at skating and she gets to spend more time with her abuelos and Luis. Then one day, her abuelos pick her up and take Juana to the hospital, where her Mami has given birth to Juana's baby sister, born prematurely and in an incubator. Now, Juana has to wait patiently until baby María comes home and she can be a proper big sister.

In fact, Juana's whole summer has been about learning to have patience. Patience learning to skate, patience becoming a hermana. And while there are lots of changes in Juana's life, she has lots of people who can help her adjust to them. Not only are Mami and Luis there for her, her abuelos are always willing to offer their support and guidance, and her new friends are willing to share their experiences of a new baby in the house, and Lucas is always there to lend a ear when Juana needs to talk about things. It's really nice seeing this supportive network of people who care about Juana and want to help her. I think that is one of the things my young readers have always like about the Juana & Lucas stories, plus so many of them have gone or are going through similar changes. Along those lines, I really like that Luis is such a great stepfather. So often, stepparents are stereotypically portrayed rejecting their new spouse's children.

As with all the Juana & Lucas books, there are the same lively, colorful cartoon-like watercolor illustrations and Spanish words sprinkled throughout. And there are more detailed digressions of important things in Juana's world.

Juana is the same wonderfully appealing character she as in the earlier books. Consistency is important to young readers and it's disconcerting to them when a character changes too much from one book to the next, but my young readers still think that Juana and these books are "just about perfect." And so do I.

Thank you to Candlewick Press and Edelweiss+ for providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.

[Linda]

I love these stories by Juana Medina, letting young Juana tell about her life in Bogotá, the challenges, the sorpresas, and the successes. I also love that writer Juana includes Spanish words in the text so smoothly that an English speaker can learn a new word, in another language! Young Juana's life with Lucas has been going along happily until those two things happen that make some changes Juana isn't quite sure about. First, she knows that her mother is pregnant and she is not sure about that new thing happening. Second, her mother has signed her up for skating camp. What!!! No friends are there and although Mami tells her she'll make new ones while she learns, it's a worry. More changes happen but with dear Lucas by her side, the love of her Mami and Luis, her stepfather, her abuelos, and her new friends, life turns out to be just right. Juana shares her worries but also how she will learn to figure out things. Juana Medina inserts those double-spread pages that center on one subject that are terrific. One is titled "Babies make everything complicado. EVERYTHING!"
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy!

[Susan]

This is my first Juana and Lucas book and I immediately fell in love with this sweet duo. This is an early chapter book for emerging readers and is the latest in the series, which delightfully now includes three books.

Juana and Lucas, her mom and her new stepdad live in Bogota, Columbia and everything seems close to perfect. That is until her mom informs Juana, that not only will she soon become a big sister, but instead of relaxing and playing with her dog, Lucas, all summer, her mom has signed her up for skating camp! And Juana doesn’t even like skating!

The short chapters filled with captivating illustrations and a sprinkling of Spanish words, along with Juana’s story of her summer, will entice kids who are ready to make the transition to early chapter books. It’s also a fun read aloud to share with even the youngest little ones. Finally, it’s a book which will prompt conversations about becoming a big brother or sister, and finding the courage to face some scary challenges.

[Nancy]

Juana and her dog, Lucas, live in Bogotá, Colombia, with her Mami and stepfather, Luis. Juana finds she is going to be a big hermana and that her mom has signed her up for patinaje camp—and she doesn’t even know how to roller skate! When Mami’s pregnancy problems put her on bedrest, Juana, supported by her abuelos, prepares to be the best sibling ever. This third book in Juana Medina’s chapter book series supports young readers with a lively text with some Spanish vocabulary and humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations, several as labeled pictures (descriptions of skate components, features of an amazing nearby park, and what babies need). (PreK-Gr 2)

[Meli]

Spotted this on display at the library and was excited to try a slightly longer book to read aloud with Margaret. I loved the Spanish words mixed in; I think she was more engaged with that than she has been when I've tried reading books that are completely in Spanish with her. She loved learning more about babies and pregnancy and what Bluey calls "early babies." And it was also perfect timing that we got to learn a bit about skating, because she received her first pair of skates as a hand-me-down right after we started reading this!

[Leslie]

Story is great for children who will become a big brother or sister for the first time. The best part about this book is the use of Spanish words. There’s at least one Spanish word in a sentence. Even if you don’t know the word in Spanish you get an idea from the way it is used on the sentence. The artwork is great and the way the typography is used throughout the pages makes it so much fun to read.

[Bethe]

5 stars. Oh how I love Juana and her perro Lucas! Muchos changes: a new bebe and skating class. Of course I had to look up Cuchavira park to see if it was new since I lived in Colombia. Maria is lucky to have such an energetic and loving big sister and furry big brother. Sure hope there are more adventures of J&L in the works!

[Zî]

Another very nice story from this author. Now Juana learns how to accept the changes that are to come with her new baby sister. In the end she learns she will be a good big sister and cheers her little sister on while in the incubator. The funniest picture I thought was the drawings Juana placed on "breath Maria!" & "come asi, con la boca" too cute.

[Anastasia Tuckness]

Juana's family keeps growing--first a stepfather, now a little baby! I think this would work as a family read-aloud or as an early chapter book.

I really enjoy Juana and her realistic perspective on life. And make sure to check out the author/illustrator photo at the end!

[Lynn]

Juana gets a sibling and goes to skate camp. Fun new addition to the series.

[Karin]

Juana and Lucas get ready for the new baby on the family, and Juana learns how to skate at camp.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through Edelweiss.