Churro Stand

Young Lucia loves to help her mother as she bakes churros—cinnamon sugar-coated pastries shaped like tubes that are popular in Latin America and Spain. With a suitcase filled with sweet delicacies, Mama, Lucia, and her older brother Santiago head out to sell their wares in Union Square in New York City. As they meet other street vendors, they call out greetings and exchange pleasantries.

Lucia and Santiago are disappointed because it’s a very hot day and people are bypassing their pushcart to buy cold treats from an ice cream vendor instead. When the children develop a plan to gain customers, they are initially successful. But then a thunderstorm rips through the area, and they are again disappointed.

After the storm, Mama and the children make a surprising connection with the ice cream vendor, selling churros and ice cream together, a delicious treat that draws large crowds and assures the day’s success.

In an author’s note, Gonzalez relates that her mother is one of the inspirations for this stirring children’s picture book: “While on my way home after work, I noticed a mother selling churros inside a Brooklyn subway station with her daughter clutched to her side. At that moment, I saw my mom and me. I remembered accompanying my mother to work on holidays and weekends without understanding that she worked extra hours to pay for my beloved dance classes.”

Gonzalez also notes that there are more than 20,000 street vendors in New York City, many of whom endure poor working conditions. She adds, “Churro Stand was written to honor the magical heroism of working parents, grandparents, and guardians. May they be celebrated and recognized for their sacrifices.”

Illustrator Krystal Quiles’s vivacious artwork captures the energy and camaraderie of street vendors and the significance of their contributions to society while depicting the routines of one loving, hard-working family. (Abrams)