Bella's Recipe for Success by Ana Siqueira

Her sister is a talented gymnast and her brother is a talented musician, but Bella is struggling to find her hidden talent. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change up final publication.)įollow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and check out our website at for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!īella’s Recipe for Success follows a young Latinx girl named Bella who is trying to figure out what she’s good at. (Pine Reads Review would like to thank Beaming Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I personally love when authors add interactive elements, especially ones you can eat! Geraldine Rodríguez’s lively illustrations beautifully add to Siqueira’s wonderful story, resulting in a book that’s sure to make special connections with readers young and old, Spanish speakers and not. Featuring a multigenerational Latinx family, and a delicious Mexican dessert, adds a lot of heart to the story, and Ana Siqueira even includes a fun bonus at the end of the story: a recipe for polvorones con dulce de leche (the cookies that Bella makes in the story). Another thing that I enjoy about this picture book is the organic and seamless Latinx representation. Bella not only deals with trial and error in baking, but also with the reality that everyone needs a little practice now and then- something I think is incredibly important to remind readers of all ages. As Bella tries to make one of Abuela’s recipes, she quickly learns that sometimes you just don’t get it right… And that’s okay!īella’s Recipe for Success is a sweet-tasting, heart-warming story that embraces making mistakes and celebrates the art of trying again.

But what can Bella do? When gymnastics and music don’t work in Bella’s favor, she turns to baking- Abuela’s area of expertise.

We can always try again.’”īella’s brother can play the piano with his eyes closed, and her sister can do fourteen cartwheels in a row. “Abuela says, ‘Sometimes that happens, Bella.

Bella's Recipe for Success by Ana Siqueira