Books like Josefina's surprise by Valerie Tripp

Josefina and her three sisters, Josefina, Marisol, and Luz, are nine-year-old sisters living in New Mexico, where their mother has recently passed away. The girls have moved from Texas to New Mexico with their aunts, Josefina's grandmother, and Josefina's aunt Marisol. They have just celebrated the first Christmas, and they decide to participate in the traditional tradition of Las Posadas to remember their mother who has passed away. Las Posadas is a custom where people gather on the first day of the month of December to look for the tabernacle of the Virgin Mary, believing that Jesus was born in a stable. The girls and their aunts set up a tent and play a game of hide and seek, trying to find the tabernacle and sing songs to remember their mother. They hope that participating in this tradition will help them stay close to her memory and feel closer to her. The story explores the themes of memory, family, and the importance of tradition in celebrating the holiday season.

First publish date: 1997