Box of Dreams

“A mother and child connect with loved ones by post and shared memory in Kazmi’s cheerfully told debut. Specific details (e.g., Mama’s including a particular, hard-to-find toothpaste in the box) capture the care that goes into the final product, and Almeda’s inventive digital images, which show Mama placed in moments of reminiscence while packing the box, add imaginative flair to this straightforward telling with a connective heart.” – Publishers Weekly

“Almeda perfectly matches the cozy tone of Kazmi’s evenly paced, tender tale with warm colors and expressive cartoons that fill each page. This is one big package of love and joy.” – Kirkus Reviews

“This beautiful picture book follows a young girl and her mother as they prepare the balikbayan box for her lola…Told through vivid imagery and dialogue, this beautiful picture book amplifies an important cultural touchstone among families and their loved ones in the Philippines. Authentic and empathetic.” – School Library Journal

Faith Kazmi is an educator and author who loved to daydream as a kid (and continues to as an adult). Deeply inspired by her Filipino heritage, she writes stories that celebrate family, culture, and love. By day, Faith works with college students around issues of equity, liberation, and care. She enjoys living in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and their mini Goldendoodle, Coco. This is Faith’s first picture book, which is truly a dream come true.

Christine Almeda is a Filipino American freelance illustrator from New Jersey. She is also the illustrator of Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store by Sophia N. Lee and Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing. Christine believes that through the power of creativity and storytelling, art can make life more beautiful. When she’s not drawing, she’s usually cooking, playing video games, or taking even more photos of the sky.