Emilia Wishing by Belen Medina. Illustrated by Magdalena Mora

Emilia’s thoughts are saturated with wishes. She wishes she had her own bed instead of having to share one with her sister; that she could eat sugary cereal for breakfast instead of the toasted tortillas her mama makes; that her family had a new car instead of the clunky old truck they get around in. And there’s more—Emilia wishes she lived in a house in a spacious neighborhood instead of in one of the crowded apartment buildings in her community; that her family didn’t shop at the thrift store in the rundown mall, but at the elegant mall across town; and that they didn’t have to make use of the thrift store’s layaway plan in order to buy secondhand clothes.

When Emilia requests items, her mama answers, “Demasiado.” Emilia hears ‘too much’ a lot because there is always too much want and not enough money to fill it up.”

As Emilia comes to terms with her thwarted wishes, she begins to notice her mama’s efforts to keep the family afloat. She realizes her mama works day and night, week after week, wearing the same old work clothes, and tiring herself out for so little financial reward. She sees that her mama’s hands are rough and calloused from hard work. And when Emilia is finally able to purchase her coveted items, she sees—really sees!—that she has all she needs and more in the love and support of her mama.

Author Belen Medina’s insightful narrative and illustrator Magdalena Mora’s winsome artwork capture the emotions of a child growing up in a financially struggling household—as many children do today—and living within the context of an affluent society but without having the opportunity to benefit from its wealth. Emilia Wishing offers Christian parents an opportunity to talk with their children about the difference between wishes and needs, poverty and affluence, and how Jesus teaches his children to be content and to care for people in need.

(Random House Studio)