The Last Slice: A Three Kings Day Treat

Melissa Seron Richardson, Monica Arnaldo (Illustrator)

$18.99

Publication Date: December 5th, 2023

Publisher:

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN:

9780316436298

Pages:

Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

A hilarious holiday tale about the highs and lows of eating one very special Three Kings Day dessert: the Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread with a figurine of the baby Jesus hidden inside!

Marta is finally old enough for her own slice of the special, sneaky dessert she loves so much—la Rosca de Reyes.

The colorful crown of sweet bread is so tempting, but Marta knows the truth—there’s a baby hiding in the dessert: el Niño Dios. Marta can’t help but wonder what will happen if she accidentally eats the little figurine of baby Jesus.

Suddenly, Marta will do whatever it takes to avoid picking the last slice of la rosca—no matter how badly she wants a bite!

This humorous story of one girl’s journey to overcome her fears explores the traditions of Three Kings Day and the importance of family and faith.

About the Author

Melissa Seron Richardson is a Mexican American mom of three who lives in Utah. Having grown up as a mixed-race child, she hopes her work will give a voice and a path to other mixed-race kids to discover where they belong. The Last Slice is her picture book debut. Melissa invites you to follow her on Twitter @SweaterGirl.

Monica Arnaldo is the author of several picture books, including Are You a Cheeseburger?, and her illustrations have also appeared in middle-grade novels and children’s magazines. She lives in Quebec with her family. Monica invites you to visit her at monica-arnaldo.com or follow her on Instagram @monicarnaldo.

Praise for The Last Slice: A Three Kings Day Treat

* “[A] sweetly comic portrait of a Three Kings Day celebration.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review—Publishers Weekly

* “This holiday picture book hilariously celebrates the Mexican tradition of eating Rosca de Reyes during Día de los Reyes Magos….Arnaldo gives the characters jovial facial expressions…which pairs extraordinarily well with Richardson’s text and clever storytelling.” —Booklist, starred review—Booklist

“A picture book that weaves together culture, culinary traditions, and Biblical storytelling.”—School Library Journal

“Marta’s anxieties … are humorously described and tempered by comical watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations featuring a cheeky Niño Dios.”—Horn Book