Like many children, my children are curious to learn more about their parents’ and family’s experiences when they were kids. My children wanted to know if my husband and I were anything like them when we were little and if we had similar experiences, although one of their parents grew up in a different country.

Little María was born out of this curiosity and was written for my kids to know more about what mommy was like as a child and what things she did in the Dominican Republic. As I told them about some of my fond childhood memories, they also wanted to know about other children in different parts of the world and their experiences. This discussion made me think of how important it is for everyone to know about children’s experiences around the world and how something so simple will make such a big difference. Additionally, it will give a clearer picture of how similar we all are and that María is just like you and me.

María is not just a foreigner, she’s a child that enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and community.