Teeny Tiendas: The Toy Store/La Juguetería

Revel in shelves full of playthings as this warm, bilingual board book series continues, introducing the youngest of readers to the community around them.

Welcome to Mr. Alegra’s toy store.
Bienvenido a la juguetería del Señor Alegra.

Step into Mr. Alegra’s store and just try not to smile at all the different toys he sells, from scooters and kites to bubbles and balls. Learn their names in both English and Spanish, then pick one to donate to the toy drive and spread some joy! Will you choose some cuddly plushies/peluches? Chalk and clay/tiza y arcilla for creativity? Or some puzzles/rompecabezas for a little challenge? They all look like fun! In this bright, bilingual series of board books from Lourdes Heuer and Zara González Hoang, readers are invited to stop at a different teeny tienda in every book--and celebrate with the vibrant, diverse community that frequents it.

Lourdes Heuer holds an MFA in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an associate professor of English at Broward College in South Florida. She is the author of the picture book On This Airplane, illustrated by Sara Palacios, and Esme’s Birthday Conga Line, illustrated by Marissa Valdez. She is the child of Cuban refugees who fled to Spain in 1969 and lived above a city toy store until she was eight, when she moved to the United States. She now lives in Florida with her family.

Zara González Hoang is a children’s author and illustrator. She’s the creator of the picture book A New Kind of Wild and the illustrator of the picture books Thread of Love by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal and Mi Casa Is My Home by Laurenne Sala. Zara González Hoang lives with her family outside of Washington, DC.