Common Sense Media Review
By Monica Encarnacion
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Colombian girl adapts to big changes in sweet story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In JUANA & LUCAS: MUCHO CHANGES, life in Bogota, Colombia, is back to feeling pretty perfect now that spunky little Juana has come to terms with Mami getting remarried. But just as Juana begins to settle into her new life and feels happy with her new little family, Mami drops a couple of new surprises on Juana: She will be spending her school break at skating camp instead of relaxing, and Mami is pregnant! So many changes! How will Juana handle them all? Mami and Luis are very excited about the baby news and want to talk about it all the time, but Juana would rather talk about something else. Also, Juana doesn't see the point in going to skate camp: She doesn't know how to skate and isn't interested in making new friends. Eventually, Juana comes around, and despite a few stumbles, she always finds a way to rise to the occasion.
Is It Any Good?
This story of change, acceptance, and growth is a welcome addition to the Juana & Lucas series. Like Book 1 and Book 2, Juana & Lucas: Mucho Changes, is filled with full-color illustrations that make this a fun to read story, especially for kids that may be ready to make the move from picture books to chapter books. It's also a great read for any kid that may be experiencing similar emotions as they step into their own big sister/brother shoes. The chapters are short and guide readers through Juana's experiences and emotions, incorporating visual details that can help kids understand and relate to her thought process and full range of emotions. As always, Juana is reminded that she can always count on family and good friends. Their constant love and guidance always help her solve her biggest problemas!
Confident and proud, we see Juana thrive as she realizes that perhaps you need to take a closer look in order to see that things aren't always as bad as you think. In fact, when you least expect it, things can turn out pretty fantastic! Turns out that having a new baby sister isn't so terrible, after all!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Spanish words in Juana & Lucas: Muchos Changes. How can you figure them out, even if you don't speak Spanish? What clues helped you find the meaning?
How is Juana's life in Bogota similar to yours? How is it different? Do you have a sister or brother? Are you the youngest or the oldest?
Juana turns to her abuelos (grandparents) to comfort her and ease her concerns. Who do you turn to when you need help solving big problems of your own? What are some of the things your loved ones do to help you feel better?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : November 30, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 96
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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