Carlos Aponte received a Pura Belpré Honor for Across the Bay and wrote and illustrated A Season to Bee. Carlos is a faculty member at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

"Struggling with the absence of their patriarch, a Puerto Rican family prepares for an impending hurricane. Pedrito's father has found work on the mainland and plans to bring the family there soon, but they miss him dearly. As they stock up on supplies and board up windows, Pedrito worries. . . . The next morning, with the storm past, he and his older brother, Juan, rescue a small dog from the rubble. Pedrito quickly bonds with the pup. . . . He's heartbroken when she returns to her actual owner; he feels her absence--and his father's--keenly. One night, Pedrito's mother encourages him to sing, something he hasn't done since his father left. The music lifts his spirits, and soon their neighbors join in, singing 'Preciosa, ' a love letter to Puerto Rico. As time goes on, the family is reunited, with an unexpected addition. . . . Featuring appealingly stylized, long-limbed characters, the artwork uses varied angles and compositions to chart Pedrito's believable journey through hardship while conveying the healing power of community and music. An uplifting story of resilience in the face of loss and natural disaster." --Kirkus Reviews

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Pub date: 2025-05-27

Length: 32 pages