Upside down and Backwards

In this spunky collection of stories, popular young adult and children's author Diane Gonzales Bertrand creates a raucous collection of rowdy fun in a bilingual format for intermediate readers. Ten-year-olds Miguel and Angel get so excited about the family's new truck that they take it for a spin. Luis rebels when his antiquated Tia Anita wants him to give his friend Diana a hairy pink thing and a box of powder that smells like cat litter. Norma dresses up like Queen Isabella and steals the spotlight from the class clowns. Alonso's day sours when he lies to claim a blue-ribbon prize in the science fair. These short stories bubble with fresh and feisty young characters, and their adventures carry all the struggles of childhood. With line-drawings by Pauline Rodriguez Howard, this funny, uplifting collection celebrates strong relationships with friends, parents, teachers, or extended family. Set in the schoolyard, at the beach, or on a driveway in front of the family's house, these stories make even the ordinary problems of childhood extraordinary.