La Casita de Esperanza

by Terry Catasús Jennings, Raúl Colón (Illustrator)

When Esperanza and her family arrive in the United States from Cuba, they buy a little house, una casita. It may be small, but they soon prove that there’s room enough to share with a whole community.

“It was a little house. Una casita . . .
It was small.
It smelled like old wet socks. . .
But even though they were far from home,
The family was together.”

As Esperanza and her family settle into their new house, they all do their part to make it a home, working multiple jobs and doing chores to pitch in. When Mami’s sister Conchita comes to stay with them, she helps other families by taking care of their children during the day. Together they turn the house into a place where other new immigrants can help one another and feel accepted.

Esperanza is always the first to welcome them, making sure that la casita offers a home for those who don’t have a place to go. It’s a safe place in a new land.

Terry Catasus Jennings first came from Cuba to the U.S. in 1961, when she was twelve years old. With Una Casita de Esperanza, she tells an inspiring, semi-autobiographical story of how immigrants can help each other find their footing in a new country.

An English edition, The Little House of Hope, is also available.

A Bank Street Best Children's Picture Book of the Year in Spanish
Una selección del Junior Library Guild
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 14, 2022

Reviews

[Tracey Kyle]

Una historia conmovedora sobre una familia cubana que trabaja junta para renovar su casita nueva cuando llegan a los Estados Unidos. Todos tienen que aprender inglés, trabajar por muchas horas y vivir en una casa pequeña pero están agradecidos de estar juntos. Y ayudan a otras familias cuando llegan a los. E.E.U.U. El lenguaje poético y las ilustraciones realistas nos dan un cuento de bondad, determinación y sí, esperanza.

[Isabella]

I think this book is great because it tells a story that other children in this situation can relate to about migrating. Also something children can learn about. It makes you also realize things that truly matter. Esperanza is the little girl's name and it means hope and hope is sometimes all you really need.

[Adriana]

Moving tribute to the Cuban diaspora and all the immigrants that come to their next home with hope in their hearts. I shed a few tears reading this one.

*Reviewed by reading an ARC*

[Audrey]

A lovely story with fantastic illustrations. Thanks to Edelweiss for a digital ARC.

[Jude Velazquez]

This book was too wordy for me right now. But I loved pointing to their Papa and saying “Papi!”

[Federica Miross]

¿Tú sabes qué pasa cuando llegas a otro país? ¿Tú sabes cómo se unen los paisanos en un momento en el que el mundo es difícil? Este libro te llena del amor latino.