Pre-order Lolo’s Sari-sari Store!

We’re so happy to have Bel Canto Books as our pre-order partner for the launch of our book Lolo’s Sari-sari Store, written by me and illustrated by the fantastic Christine Almeda. Every pre-order comes with a sari-sari store book plate signed by me and Christine, along with some pre-order goodies that we’ll be revealing soon.

This book is about building community and finding ways to belong in new places told through a Filipino lens, inspired by memories of the sari-sari store my family had when I was growing up.

It would be awesome if you could pre-order our book! Pre-orders are so helpful in determining the success of a book — it lets booksellers know you’re interested and can help our books be readily available and more accessible to you.

You can pre-order the book here to get signed bookplates and sticker packs! https://belcantobooks.net/preorder

Other options for pre-order are available here.

About the book:

A little girl holds lessons learned in her grandfather’s sari-sari store close while adjusting to a new home in this sweet picture book about the joy of community, connection, and Filipino culture.

For one girl, summers used to mean helping Lolo run his sari-sari store, which was always brimming with goods for the neighborhood: shampoo packets for Ate Jane, rice and eggs for Tonton, and a sympathetic ear for anyone who needed it. “Sari-sari means a good variety—just look around and you’ll see. What help can you give your community?” Lolo would say, as he filled his shelves with what people would need.

Now that she’s far from the Philippines, she misses Lolo and the friendly faces that surrounded his sari-sari store. But when she remembers her grandfather’s words, her heart keeps Lolo close, and she starts to see opportunities for connection and community in her new home.