Hay un lugar

K-Gr 2–Daniela finds comfort in her abuela as she experiences difficult emotions. After hearing a big argument between her parents that results in her papa leaving home with a suitcase in hand, sad words (palabras tristes) and twisted up memories (recuerdos enredados) are making Daniela feel down. Abuela asks Daniela what’s wrong, but she struggles to share or even make sense of her complicated feelings. Although Dani doesn’t want to talk about what she feels (sadness, anger, and a stormy mind), Abuela is understanding, and instead offers her a quiet space where she doesn’t need to speak or even think: her warm embrace. The accompanying digital illustrations offer visual representations of Dani’s complex emotions through expressive faces and gestures, like Dani covering her ears as her parents argue, that are both relatable and inspire empathy. The images also bring to life analogies within the text, like the big words Dani overhears that feel like mean ogres charging into their space, or the invasive, gremlinlike mini monsters that make her home feel dark.