New Shoes for Leo

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

Debut Cuban-American author Lauren Agra Deedy and award-winning artist Susan Gal join forces in this charming, heartfelt picture book story about an immigrant family—and their love and caring for family they left behind.William's Mami and his Tia Ana are busy packing a big box of food, medicine, and clothing to mail to their family living in Cuba.But something important is missing.They have no zapatos, no shoes, to send Cousin Leo!"Which cousin is Leo?" William asks.Tia Ana answers him with a thin paper tracing of Leo’s footprint. She nudges him out the door to find someone in the family with spare shoes in Leo’s size. But finding shoes for Leo is not as easy as it seems.With warmth and tenderness, Lauren Agra Deedy and Susan Gal have created a rich, colorful story of a tight-knit family — and the love that grows as they care for those living far away.

About the Author

Lauren Agra Deedy graduated from Emory University before receiving her MPhil in Literatures of the Americas from Trinity College in Dublin. Like William in the story, Lauren is the child and grandchild of refugees, and grew up helping them make care packages for family still living in communist Cuba. New Shoes for Leo is her picture book debut. Lauren lives with her husband and family in Atlanta, Georgia.

After completing her BFA at Art Center College of Design, Susan Gal began her illustration career as a poster and calendar artist. She is an award-winning illustrator of several picture books, including Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Leslea Newman, winner of both the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, and The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs by Chana Stiefel, recipient of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and Robert F. Sibert Honor. Susan lives with her husband in Berkeley, California, where she creates fun and whimsical illustrations while attempting to live a caffeine- and nuclear-free life. Visit her at galgirlstudio.com.