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After I wrote Road Trip Return, which is set in Guatemala, one of my writer friends told me, “You should talk to Minda Gomez!”
As it turns out, like me, Minda Gomez, author of the Martinez Kids Adventures, has a special connection to Guatemala. Her experiences there and throughout Latin America have shaped her life and her stories. And we’ve even hiked the same volcano in Guatemala, which is a fun thing to have in common!
After interviewing Minda on my YouTube channel, where we talked about our mutual love of Guatemala, some of our favorite recipes, Minda’s series, the challenges of translating a book, and more, I knew I wanted to read her books.
I started with the audiobook of The Secret Door (Amazon Affliate Link), book 1 of the Martinez Kids Adventures, narrated by Melinda Yerzy.
The Secret Door is the story of three loveable bilingual siblings whose neighbor, Don Toño, has invited them into a whole new world with his virtual reality machine. Rico, Diego, and Araceli Martinez enjoy a variety of adventures from the sea to the rainforest, meet (and become!) talking animals, and solve problems that relate to their real lives.
I enjoyed the Martinez kids’ relatable antics and the lessons they learned. I also loved how The Secret Door offers a fun, unique way for readers to learn Spanish words. And Minda describes some great Mexican meals that made me hungry as I listened!
The audiobook narrator, Melinda Yerzy, does a fabulous job of bringing the story to life. And for kids who prefer to hold the book in their hands, the chapter book includes colorful illustrations, as well as a glossary and recipe!
I’d recommend the Martinez Kids Adventures for kids who want to learn Spanish and explore new places in a unique way. The Martinez kids are 8, 5, and 2 years old, so kids in this age range might especially connect with Rico, Diego, and Araceli. And the lessons they learn will have parents smiling too!
I love how stories allow us to celebrate other languages and cultures and learn about the experiences of other families that might be different from our own.
And The Secret Door is a great example of that.
Never forget . . . you are wonderfully created.
Love,
Becca
