ABUELITA'S PARADISE
by Carmen Santiago Nodar & translated by Diane Paterson
Mourning her grandma (Abuelita), Marita sits in the rocker she wanted her to have, wraps herself in Abuelita's old blanket (inscribed ``para°so''), and remembers her stories about her island paradise: rural Puerto Rico. Imagining Abuelita's experiences makes her seem close once more—especially when Mama holds Marita in her lap and says that now ``Abuelita's in another paradise.'' Paterson nicely conveys the beauty of Abuelita's remembered childhood home and the warm feeling of continuity through generations, so strong that Mama and Marita still feel the old woman's embrace: her shadowy presence appears with the other two in the chair. Also available in Spanish. (Picture book. 4-8)