Skateboard Star

One Day at a Time meets Mindy Kim in this fourth book in the charming chapter book series about Catalina Castaneda, a Mexican American girl with a magical sewing kit who wants to win a skateboarding competition.

The Valle Grande Games skateboarding competition is coming up, and the winner gets a brand-new board. That means, if Coco wins, Catalina might finally get a skateboard of her own—Coco’s old one. The trouble is, normally fearless Coco has lost her skateboarding mojo at the worst possible time. Cat discovers that Coco has outgrown her lucky flannel, and without it, she’s lost her confidence.

This could be Catalina’s big chance. She can enter the competition herself. If she wears the lucky flannel—and uses the magic sewing kit to make some special alterations—the judges might see a skating star and award her the new board. Which sister will come out on top?

Jennifer Torres is the award-winning author of Stef Soto, Taco Queen; The Fresh New Face of Griselda; and other books for young readers. She writes stories about home, friendship, and unexpected courage inspired by her Mexican American heritage. Jennifer started her career as a newspaper reporter, and even though she writes fiction now, she hopes her stories still have some truth in them. She lives with her family in Southern California.

Gladys Jose is an illustrator and storyteller. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specializing in graphic design. Gladys is the illustrator of Library Fish, Fresh Princess, The Elephants’ Guide to Hide-and-Seek, and the Once Before Time chapter book series.