Roses for Isabella

This morning, Cotacachi, the volcano that watches over my village, is veiled in clouds of white, as soft as the wool my grandfather spins. After breakfast, I get ready to walk to school. Mama weaves my hair into a long braid and ties it with a brightly colored ribbon. Papa watches me put my writing book into my schoolbag. He says with a big smile, “Isabella, you are our family’s first writer.” Roses for Isabella invites us to experience life in Ecuador through the eyes of a young girl who keeps a journal and loves to write. We learn about Isabella’s parents who work on one of the hundreds of farms growing beautiful roses that are sold all over the world. But not all of these farms are fair to workers and kind to the earth. Through Isabella, we learn how her family’s life changes for the better when her parents find work at a Fair Trade farm. Written by award-winning author, Diana Cohn and brilliantly illustrated by award-winning artist Amy Córdova, Roses for Isabella will touch the hearts of children and parents, as well as introduce them to the cultural traditions of Ecuador and the importance of making choices that support Fair Trade products.