Estela’s Swap

By Alexis O'Neill, Enrique O. Sanchez

    A Mexican American girl learns to value the act of giving when she attends her first swap meet.

    Front cover for Estela en el mercado de pulgas by Alexis O'Neill and Enrique O. Sanchez
    This book is also available in Spanish
    Estela en el mercado de pulgas
    By Alexis O'Neill, Enrique O. Sanchez

    Description

    Estela is excited. This is her first time at Swap Meet, and she is looking forward to selling her music box to earn money for folk dancing lessons at the Ballet Folklórico.

    As Estela waits for customers, a strong wind suddenly sends everything flying. Estela rushes to help a woman selling flowers across the way, but she is too late. All the flowers are gone! Estela decides on a simple act of compassion and generosity, which brings her the gift of friendship and a delightful surprise.

    Estela’s Swap is sure to resonate with all children who have a special wish and work hard to make it come true. Readers will discover the joy of giving — and receiving, too.

    About the Creators

    Alexis O’Neill

    Alexis O'Neill is the author of the highly acclaimed Loud Emily (Simon & Schuster), and The Recess Queen (Scholastic), a Junior Library Guild selection. She also works as an instructor at the UCLA Extension Writer'sTM Program and as a writing consultant for several other institutions. The idea for this story came from O'Neill's many visits to swap meets after she and her husband moved to Simi Valley, California, where they live. For more information about Alexis O'Neill, visit alexisoneill.com.

    Enrique O. Sanchez
    Enrique O. Sanchez

    Enrique O. Sanchez has illustrated numerous award winning children's books, including Lee & Low's Abuela's Weave, Amelia's Road, and Confetti. A native of the Dominican Republic, he splits his time between his homes in Bass Harbor, Maine and Miami, Florida.

    Reviews

    • "This is a warm, nicely paced story about sharing and bartering that's filled with sensory descriptions of the vibrant open market. The textured acrylics capture the hum and bustle of the stalls, but the colorful scenery doesn't overwhelm the story. Sanchez paints the characters in sharp focus, so that they pop out against the blurred, evocative background scenes. A good starting point for classroom discussion across the curriculum."

      - Booklist
    • "O'Neill subtly weaves details of trades and bargaining into the fabric of her story to give readers a tangible taste of swaps or flea markets. Sanchez uses richly colored, bright acrylics to render the energy and bustle of a Swap Meet in his full-bleed illustrations The text is skillfully incorporated into the illustrations and the focus on each spread remains firmly on the plucky heroine. All in all, a wonderful bargain."

      - School Library Journal
    • "This is a well-crafted tale featuring a Mexican-American father and children will be wonderful for reading aloud to individuals or to groups."

      - Kirkus Reviews

    Paperback

  • ISBN 9781600602535
  • Publication Date Jun 24, 2005
  • Trim Size 10 × 9.5 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781584300441
  • Publication Date Jun 24, 2005
  • Trim Size N/A
  • Weight 0.8125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Social Themes / New Experience
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Performing Arts / Dance
  • Themes Conflict resolution, Dreams & Aspirations, Empathy / Compassion, Fiction, Friendship, Games / Toys, Gratitude, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Poverty, Realistic Fiction, Sharing & Giving
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 9
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 4
  • Guided Reading N
  • ATOS Book Level 3.1
  • DRA 30
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 4
  • Lexile Level 540
  • Reading Level 2
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 15
      English Guided Reading Level N
      Collection of 15 books: $167.90

      Estela's Swap

      A Mexican American girl learns to value the act of giving when she attends her first swap meet.

      Ghosts for Breakfast

      When the Troublesome Triplets complain that they have seen ghosts in Farmer Tanaka's field, Papa sets off with his son to hunt the ghosts in this fun story set in 1920s California.

      Grandfather Counts

      In this contemporary intergenerational story, a biracial girl and her Chinese grandfather overcome language differences and develop a special bond.

      Grandma's Purple Flowers

      An African American girl who cherishes her frequent visits to her favorite Grandma finds a way to remember her grandmother with hope and joy after she passes away.

      The Happiest Tree

      Meena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood.

      Sam and the Lucky Money

      During Chinese New Year, a young boy encounters a homeless person and discovers that no gift is too small when it comes from the heart.

      Saturday At the New You

      A girl spends the day at her mother's hair salon, a neighborhood gathering place.

      Get Set! Swim!

      The day of the big swim meet has finally arrived, and Jessenia is excited, but a bit worried too.

      Lakas and the Manilatown Fish

      In this bilingual English-Tagalog story set in the U.S., an all-American boy of Filipino descent, some amusing manongs-Filipino elders-and a fish with unusual faculties take off on a fanciful romp through a dreamscape of the imagination.

      A Library for Juana

      An award-winning biography about the inspiring life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

      King for a Day

      Malik, a Pakistani boy who uses a wheelchair, is excited to compete in the annual kite-flying festival of Basant. Can his kite defeat the bully's and make him "King" of the festival?

      Confetti

      The renowned poet Pat Mora celebrates the culture and landscape of the Southwest through the eyes of a Mexican American girl.

      Bears

      Open this book to learn about all the different species of bears in the world.

      Box Turtles

      Box turtles are found in the United States and Mexico. Read this book to find out all about them.

      The Sun, Earth, and Moon

      Read this book to learn about the three most important objects in our solar system: the sun, Earth, and the moon.

      619 in stock

    • 28
      Latin American English Collection Grades 3-6
      Collection of 28 books: $392.60

      Amelia's Road

      A girl from a migrant worker family overcomes the hardship of moving by creating a special place for herself.

      Miosotis Flores Never Forgets

      Perfect for fans of Meg Medina and Barbara O'Connor, this heartfelt novel about family, pets, and other things we hold close is one that you'll never forget.

      ¡Sí, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can!

      When the janitors' union strikes for better wages, Carlitos discovers a way to help his mother in this powerful bilingual picture book.

      Cuando el sindicato de conserjes organiza una huelga para exigir mejores salarios, Carlitos descubre una manera en que le puede ayudar a su madre en este poderoso libro ilustrado bilingüe.

      Where Wonder Grows

      A 2023 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner

      From the creators of the award-winning picture book All Around Us comes another lyrical intergenerational story exploring our connections to nature, family, and traditions.

      All Around Us

      This gorgeous picture book -- winner of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor and American Indian Youth Literature Award Picture Book Honor -- celebrates the circles that surround us, in the sky, the earth, our neighborhoods, ourselves... if we just dare to look for them.

      Todos Iguales / All Equal

      The empowering true story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, in which Mexican families in southern California won the first Mexican American school desegregation case in US history.

      Nacho's Nachos

      The delicious true story of an inventive chef and the serendipitous events that led to the creation of the world's favorite snack--nachos!

      Armando and the Blue Tarp School

      The story of a young Mexican boy living in a colonia (trash dump community) who takes the first steps toward realizing his dream of getting an education.

      Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle

      The Penderwicks meets In the Heights in this sparkling middle-grade debut about a young Dominican American girl in New York City.

      The Road to Santiago

      A fictional story about a boy and his family in Havana who overcome obstacles to reach their relatives in Santiago to celebrate Christmas during the Cuban revolution in the 1950s.

      The School the Aztec Eagles Built

      A photo-illustrated book about the Aztec Eagles, Mexico's World War II Air Force squadron interwoven with the story of Sergeant Angel Bocanegra, whose service was rewarded with the building of a school in his village.

      Parrots Over Puerto Rico

      A nonfiction picture book about the history of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican parrot, which was brought back from the brink of extinction. Also available in Spanish.

      ¡Olé! Flamenco

      A photo-essay about flamenco, a centuries-old living art form, originating in southern Spain, that incorporates traditional dance, song, and music.

      First Day in Grapes

      The powerful story of a migrant boy who grows in self-confidence when he uses his math prowess to stand up to the school bullies.

      Confetti

      The renowned poet Pat Mora celebrates the culture and landscape of the Southwest through the eyes of a Mexican American girl.

      Abuela's Weave

      This touching story of personal growth and family pride is illustrated with authentic Guatemalan scenery that gives life to the country's radiant landscape and bustling city streets.

      ¡Béisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends

      In this fascinating and colorfully written collection of profiles, author/illustrator Jonah Winter gives us a guide to Latino heroes, including little known pioneers of the sport.

      Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico! Americas' Sproutings

      A collection of haiku focusing on fourteen foods native to the Americas, celebrating the fun of the foods as well as their origins.

      When This World Was New

      An uplifting story about a young boy overcoming his fears and embracing his new home in America.

      Under the Lemon Moon

      One night, Rosalinda is awakened by a noise in the garden.

      The Pot That Juan Built

      With vibrant illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner David Diaz,The Pot that Juan Builtis sure to enlighten all who are fascinated by traditional art forms, Mexican culture, and the power of the human spirit to find inspiration from the past.

      The Birthday Swap

      A Mexican American girl looks for the perfect birthday gift for her sister and ends up with a big surprise of her own.

      Summer of the Mariposas

      In this young adult retelling of The Odyssey, Odilia and her four sisters journey to Mexico to return a dead man to his family and encounter magical creatures along the way.

      Love to Mamá

      Thirteen Latino poets celebrate their bonds with their mothers and grandmothers.

      How We Are Smart

      Musician Tito Puente. Ballerina Maria Tallchief. Explorer Matthew Henson. Congresswoman Patsy Mink. These are some of the people profiled in this book. They are well known for different reasons, but they also have something in common. They were all smart!

      Home At Last

      A sympathetic tale of a mother-daughter bond and overcoming adversity, brought to life by the vivid illustrations of Felipe Davalos.

      Get Set! Swim!

      The day of the big swim meet has finally arrived, and Jessenia is excited, but a bit worried too.

      Estela's Swap

      A Mexican American girl learns to value the act of giving when she attends her first swap meet.

      958 in stock

    • 61
      English Fiction Grades PreK-2
      Collection of 61 books: $732.95

      First Day in Grapes

      The powerful story of a migrant boy who grows in self-confidence when he uses his math prowess to stand up to the school bullies.

      A Toucan Can Can You?

      Fans of How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck? rejoice! Here's an all new volume of tongue-twisting compound words, guaranteed to tickle your fancy! You'll laugh! You'll cry! Well...OK, maybe not, but you'll have lots of fun reading this book, poring through illustrations by thirteen different artists (including two fresh, new faces to the children's book scene!), and listening to an all new audio rendition of this new collection. So how much time will you spend reading, looking at, and listening to this book? As much time as you can! And if you're still dizzy from the first array of compound words and inverse descriptives...well, fasten your seat belts-the ride begins anew!

      The Happiest Tree

      Meena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood.

      Bringing Asha Home

      A biracial Asian Indian American boy finds his own special way to bond with his sister while the family awaits her adoption from India.

      A House by the River

      A young girl learns her rickety, old house by the river is stronger than the fiercest storm because it is fortified by love and family.

      Abuela's Weave

      This touching story of personal growth and family pride is illustrated with authentic Guatemalan scenery that gives life to the country's radiant landscape and bustling city streets.

      Amelia's Road

      A girl from a migrant worker family overcomes the hardship of moving by creating a special place for herself.

      Estela's Swap

      A Mexican American girl learns to value the act of giving when she attends her first swap meet.

      Destiny's Gift

      Destiny loves words, and her favorite place in the world is Mrs. Wade's bookstore, where words abound.

      Goldfish and Chrysanthemums

      A Chinese American girl helps preserve her grandmother's childhood memories of China by creating a special garden for her in America.

      Grandfather Counts

      In this contemporary intergenerational story, a biracial girl and her Chinese grandfather overcome language differences and develop a special bond.

      The Have a Good Day Café

      Early each morning Mike and his family drive to the city with their food cart.

      Willie Wins

      In this heart-warming story, a boy gets beyond peer pressure and comes to appreciate the depth of his father's love. First-time author Almira Astudillo Gilles teams up with artist Carl Angel to create an inspiring and suspenseful story. Young readers will be cheering for Willie all the way.

      Raymond's Perfect Present

      When he tries to surprise his sick mother with flowers that he grew, a Chinese American boy receives a nice surprise of his own.

      Joshua's Masai Mask

      A magical Masai mask takes an African American boy on a series of adventures, and he discovers the joy of being himself.

      King for a Day

      Malik, a Pakistani boy who uses a wheelchair, is excited to compete in the annual kite-flying festival of Basant. Can his kite defeat the bully's and make him "King" of the festival?

      Oh No, Domino!

      The story of a boy attempting to play fetch with his dog, who brings back assorted round objects when the ball is lost.

      Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji

      Overflowing with family, food, and a tall stack of fun, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji is sure to warm the heart and tickle the tummy. A fun way for children to learn about the cultural traditions and foods of India to be enjoyed by the whole family.

      Ghosts for Breakfast

      When the Troublesome Triplets complain that they have seen ghosts in Farmer Tanaka's field, Papa sets off with his son to hunt the ghosts in this fun story set in 1920s California.

      The Can Man

      To earn money, a young boy decides to collect and redeem empty soft drink cans, but ends up giving away his money to help a local homeless man.

      Juna's Jar

      After Juna's best friend moves away, Juna, an imaginative Korean American girl, goes on magical adventures by way of her special kimchi jar.

      The Hula-Hoopin' Queen

      A spunky African American girl has a hula-hooping competition with her friends in Harlem, and soon everyone in the neighborhood--young and old alike--joins in on the fun.

      Drummer Boy of John John

      The perfect book for aspiring young drummers, where a young boy in Trinidad discovers he can create tunes on discarded metal tins, and goes on to win the Carnival band competition.

      Benji, the Bad Day, and Me

      Sammy is having the absolute rottenest, worst day ever. His little brother, Benji, knows exactly what that's like.

      A Space for Me

      Alex needs a break from his pesky little brother, Lucas, so he creates a space for himself, but soon realizes that he and Lucas need time together too.

      A Morning with Grandpa

      In this sweet, slice-of-life story, a curious and active Asian American girl spends the day learning tai chi from her grandfather, and in turn tries to teach him how to do yoga.

      No Mush Today

      The sweet story a young girl who rebels against eating mushy cereal for breakfast every day by leaving her parents and baby brother to spend the day with her grandmother, then realizes home isn't so bad after all.

      Bein' with You This Way

      An African American girl and her friends play together and learn that despite their physical differences, they are all really the same.

      The Story I'll Tell

      In this tender story of international adoption, a mother weaves a magical web of tales to explain how her child came to be part of the family.