"Once there was a little girl named Clara, who was grumpy." She was grumpy about having to take out the trash, having to share her toys with her seven brothers and sisters, and having to read one book a week for school. And Mami is tired of Clara's grumpy face, so she sends her daughter to the curandera —or healer—to ask for help. The curandera gives Clara a list of things to do in the coming week: take out her own trash and the neighbors' as well; give all of her favorite toys to her brothers and sisters; and read five books instead of one! It's a difficult, busy week for Clara. But, her neighbors are grateful for her help, and give her hugs. Her siblings are so happy that they are extra nice to her and invite her to play with them. Her mother takes her to the library to check out books and she reads lots of interesting things. When the week is over, Clara realizes that she has not had time to feel grumpy. Could it be that helping others makes her feel ... happy ? In this winning bilingual picture book written by award-winning author Monica Brown and vividly illustrated by Thelma Muraida, children ages 4 – 8 will cheer for Clara as she learns to focus on others rather than herself. With a fuming young girl on the cover, this bilingual picture book is sure to grab kids with the story of Clara, who just wants space and time for herself. She is tired of sharing with all her brothers and sisters, taking out the trash, and reading books for school. Desperate, Mami insists Clara see the curandera, who tells Clara to do more of everything: take out the neighbors’ trash, share her fun toys with her siblings, read more books. And, surprise—when Clara does all that, life is blissful. Then the curandera tells Clara she can stop. But does the new Clara want that? The clear, unframed pastel pictures with lots of red and brown show Clara sour-faced, furious, and distant from everyone, and kids will enjoy the sulking standoffs as much as the message that sharing and helping can make fun connections. As for Clara being forced to read, in a climactic scene the library is a joyful place where she can reach out for her dreams. Preschool-Grade 3. --Hazel Rochman "Clara and the Curandera is a joyous book with powerful lessons in human kindness shining from every page. The pleasantly colorful illustrations reinforce the story's theme that no childish meanness can outlast the sunshine of shared kindness for long! Generosity of heart is the best medicine, as the curandera knows very well." -- Diane Donovan "The Midwest Book Review" "This well-written, beautifully illustrated bilingual book for 4- to 8-year-olds tells the story of once-grumpy Clara. Advice from the neighborhood curandera, or healer, helps transform a girl who learns valuable lessons from sharing and helping others." -- Elaine Ayala "My SA" MONICA BROWN is the author of numerous award-winning books for children, including Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People (Henry Holt & Co., 2011), Side by Side: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez / Lado a lado: La historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez (Rayo/HarperCollins, 2010), Butterflies on Carmen Street / Mariposas en la calle Carmen (Pinata Books, 2007), and My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz / Me llamo Celia: La vida de Celia Cruz (Luna Rising, 2004), winner of the Americas Award for Children's Literature and named a Pura Belpre Honor Book. When she is not writing, she teaches Latino/a literature at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. THELMA MURAIDA, an accomplished designer and artist, lives in San Antonio, Texas. This is her first picture book.