What Lolo Wants

In this heartwarming and poignant story, a girl and her grandfather share a love beyond words, for fans of When Lola Visits and Holding On.

Every night, Maria and Lolo draw together. Though she tries, Maria isn’t nearly as good as her grandfather. Lolo can draw anything: Lola cooking, sampaguita blooming, maya birds perching. One day, though, things start to change. Lolo does not feel well. And when Maria asks him to draw, he says he needs to rest. Not long after, Lolo begins to forget people’s names, and soon he cannot find the words for what he wants. Maria tries to find some way to help Lolo communicate - could their shared love of drawing be the answer?

This sweet and moving picture book written by Cristina Oxtra is a wonderful conversation starter about how to navigate through family changes by continuing to care and connect. It highlights a strong intergenerational bond between a young girl and her beloved grandfather. Jamie Bauza’s rich illustrations in gorgeous tropical colors are full of evocative details of the setting in the Philippines. Tagalog words are incorporated into the text. This book works well for character education lessons on empathy, initiative and resilience.

Cristina Oxtra is an educator and the author of many books for young readers, including Tara and the Towering Wave, Keep Dancing and Tae Kwon Do Test. She holds a master of fine arts in creative writing for children and young adults. Born and raised in the Philippines, she now lives with her family in Minnesota.

Jamie Bauza is an award-winning illustrator and designer based in Manila, the Philippines. She has illustrated more than two dozen books for young readers and has been an illustrator in residency at the School of Visual Arts in New York. When she’s not drawing, you can find her in the garden or talking to her cats.