Cynthia Harmony has a new picture book, APAPACHO: A Story About Hug from the Heart Illustrated by Erika Mesa and was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on January 13, 2026. They have agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US. All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Cynthia and Erica. If you automatically receive Writing and Illustrating, please let me know when you leave a comment to receive an additional chance to win. BOOK DESCRIPTION: A gorgeous picture book featuring a Mexican American family that’s as comforting as a warm embrace―great for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and baby gifts! Every day for Luna starts and ends with Mami’s apapachos―hugs that come from Mami’s soul. Her warm cuddles fill Luna’s heart, like stars fill the sky. They make her feel safe. They make her feel seen. But, oh no, Mami has to take a trip! What will Luna do without Mami’s hugs? Maybe…apapachos can come from other people, too. Like Abue’s, which makes Luna feel brave. And Daddy’s, which makes her giggle. Not to mention her dog, Benito’s wet nuzzle which tells her to rise and shine with a smile. It turns out even when Mami’s far away, her love is all around. Apapacho love is everywhere! BOOK JOURNEY: This book began as a collection of special moments of love and shortly after going on submission, it received a couple R&R’s (Revise & Resubmit) invitations from editors. I revised the story from the POV of a little girl named Luna and how her Mami’s apapachos or hugs fill her days like stars fill the sky. But when Mami has to go on a work trip for the first time, Luna has to navigate missing her apapachos. The first short separations for young kids from caregivers is a huge developmental milestone. And I wanted the central element in the story to be centered around apapachos, introducing the concept to readers who might not know about it. Apapacho, is a beautiful Nahuatl word, the language of the native people of Mexico, to describe a special hug or cuddle. Nowadays, it’s a word commonly used in Latin America. I wanted to share our understanding of love in the latin community and the ways to make children feel loved and safe. And highlight the very special bond between mother and child. I think Erika’s art captures that magical moment of mutual love perfectly. When it feels like everything is as it should be, stepping out of time as the moon and stars surround them both in their own universe. But more importantly, my goal was to empower young readers to know they can create their own moments and spaces of love themselves. To know they have the ability and power to express and create a loving and safe space at any given moment, where they can bring others in too. And that if we look a little closer, we’ll find that love is everywhere. My intention was to make the story feel like an apapacho to all readers in book form. My own apapacho to the world in times when might we feel we need it most. CYNTHIA‘S BIO: Cynthia Harmony is an educational psychologist and author originally from Mexico City. Her bilingual books have received critical acclaim. She has made significant contributions to children’s literature and was awarded the 2020 “We Need Diverse Books” Mentorship highlighting her commitment to promoting diverse voices in literature. ERIKA’S BIO: Erika Meza grew up in Mexico and moved houses more often than she had birthdays. Having studied illustration in Paris, she now lives in London―her thirty-sixth address―where she paints, writes her own stories, and practices her uncanny ability to pack efficiently. Erika loves exploring, learning about many different places and cultures, and finding joy in the people who allow you to be yourself. BOOK REVIEW: Cynthia, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. APAPACHO: A Story About Hugs from the Heart is a tender, luminous celebration of connection, culture, and the many ways love wraps around a child — even across distance. Cynthia Harmony introduces young readers to the beautiful Nahuatl‑rooted word apapacho, meaning a hug that comes from the soul, and she builds an entire story around that feeling of deep, heart‑level comfort. We follow Luna, a young girl whose days begin and end with her Mami’s apapachos — warm, grounding embraces that make her feel safe, seen, and cherished. When Mami must leave on a trip, Luna’s world wobbles. Harmony handles this emotional shift with such gentleness, offering young readers a reassuring truth: love doesn’t disappear when someone is far away. It simply finds new ways to reach us. As Luna discovers apapachos from Abue, Daddy, and even her dog Benito, the story becomes a soft, steady reminder that a child’s support system is bigger than they may realize. Each hug carries its own flavor — bravery, giggles, morning joy — and together they help Luna feel held until Mami returns. Erika Meza’s illustrations glow with warmth and movement, capturing the closeness of family life and the emotional arc of missing someone you love. The palette feels like a sunrise wrapped in a blanket — comforting, vibrant, and full of heart. ages 3–8: Offers emotional reassurance around separation Introduces a culturally rich and meaningful word Celebrates intergenerational love Perfect for bedtime, classroom discussions, or social‑emotional learning A beautiful pick for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or welcoming a new sibling In short: This picture book feels like a hug you can hold in your hands. Families looking for stories about connection, comfort, and the enduring presence of love will find APAPACHO irresistible. Good luck with the book. Talk tomorrow, Kathy
