Hear Lea read a brief excerpt of her book on NPR-affiliate station KALW San Francisco.
Hear an interview about the book on NPR-affiliate station WGVU Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Hear an interview about the book on the Conversations Live podcast with Vicki St. Clair.
Once, on an alligator-shaped island in the middle of a wide sea, there lived a little girl who loved maps and dreamed of one day knowing other places . . .
In another part of the world, at the mouth of a wide bay, there lived an old man who in his youth dreamed of sailing the world and making friends in foreign lands . . .
When these two strangers connect through a message in a bottle, their communication inspires a visit that forges a lasting friendship, which expands both their worlds. Based on a true story, Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle is a lyrically written, lushly illustrated portrait of life in rural Cuba that will enchant children and adults alike.
Book Trailer
Praise for Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle
I love this book! The inspiring story of Arletis and Abuelo Esteban transports us to the beauty of the Cuban countryside and opens our hearts to the magic of friendship across borders.
—Ruth Behar, winner of the Pura Belpré Award and author of Tía Fortuna’s New Home
Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle is a true-life story that teaches how the simple faith of a young girl and the generous heart of an old man can defy thousands of miles of separation, language barriers, and the great political differences between their countries.
—Joe Hayes, author of Dance, Nana, Dance: Cuban Folktales in English and Spanish
Lea Aschkenas strips away the years of political impediment that have prevented two peoples living only 90 miles apart from knowing and caring for one another. A beautiful book and a thrill to read.
—Margaret Randall, author of To Change the World: My Years in Cuba
This book is a pure joy, full of heart and infused with the tastes and sounds and colors of Cuba. My eyes tear up at the simple yet profound way that these lovable characters fill gaps in each other’s lives.
—Laura Resau, Américas Book Award-winning author of Star in the Forest
A true story, surprising and moving, and masterfully narrated by Lea Aschkenas.
—Mylene Fernández-Pintado, author of A Corner of the World
Aschkenas’ poetic ode connecting two distinct worlds will fill your heart with warmth.
—Alda Dobbs, author of The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna
This hope-filled celebration of friendship across distances will have readers dreaming of their own messages in a bottle as they imagine the world beyond their horizons.
—Jennifer Torres, author of Finding the Music/En pos de la música