Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey

by Ruth Behar

A poignant multicultural ode to family and what it means to create a home as one girl helps her Tía move away from her beloved Miami apartment.

When Estrella's Tía Fortuna has to say goodbye to her longtime Miami apartment building, The Seaway, to move to an assisted living community, Estrella spends the day with her. Tía explains the significance of her most important possessions from both her Cuban and Jewish culture, as they learn to say goodbye together and explore a new beginning for Tía.

A lyrical book about tradition, culture, and togetherness, Tía Fortuna's New Home explores Tía and Estrella's Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. Through Tía's journey, Estrella will learn that as long as you have your family, home is truly where the heart is.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Family, Childrens, Latinx, Cultural, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published January 25, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to the Cuban Jewish aspect. I was curious. I used to have some reasons to believe I had some Sephardic heritage but according to 23andme I’m mostly Ashkenazi. I still like learning about the Sephardic culture though, and many other cultures.

It is a lovely though sparse story but I could have done without a couple parts. The almost magical mezuzah, for instance. I probably would have liked that if I’d been in a different mood or the target age for this book.

It is a lovely family story, and I especially love the relationship between great aunt and great niece. As evidenced by this quote “We come from people who found hope wherever they went.” I think it’s supposed to be an uplifting and happy story but I found it to be sad and melancholy. Moving to an old age home does not feel like a welcome change to me. I do appreciate that the older woman seems perfectly content and finds home wherever she is, and that she immediately makes friends, and that her family still seems to stay involved in her life.

I enjoyed the melding of words from different languages, and several languages are included, although Spanish is the most common after the English that is used in the main part of the story.

There is good informational material at the end and I think that it is needed. Many people will not completely understand everything going on in the story proper. It helps to be familiar with Jewish customs. I do think that the story can be enjoyed by all readers/listeners though since the essence of it is a wonderful universal story about persisting, relationships, and having & cherishing memories.

The illustrations are fabulous. Beautiful! I love their colors and their details. There are many I’d be happy to have on display in my apartment. They are that special. They do a superb job helping to tell the story.

5 stars for the illustrations. 3-1/2 to 4 stars for the story & the extra information at the end. 4-1/2 stars

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book, Tia Fortuna’s New Home: A Cuban Jewish Journey (2022), at my library because I saw that the author was Ruth Behar, a cultural anthropologist and MacArthur Award-winner, a woman whose work, Translated Woman: Crossing the Border with Esperanza's Story (1993) and The Vulnerable Observer: Anthropology That Breaks Your Heart (1997) I read (and when I was at Michigan, in drafts) and taught. Now I see she has been writing novels and picture books, which does not surprise me, as narrative and accessibility were her hallmarks. Stories with heart!

The story here is about a girl spending a day with her Tia, her last day before going to assisted living. The story doesn’t get enough into Cuban-Jewish culture--Behar is Sephardic Jewish and Cuban--nor even into enough specific memories, but there is an honoring of language(s), and specific moments/artifacts from Tia Fortuna’s life. The art is colorful, and vibrant and. . . hopeful.

The best thing about this book is the afterword where Behar speaks about Sephardic Jewry and how they may have come to Cuba from Spain. Very intriguing, and I want to know more--maybe a list of possible readings might have helped a general reader.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars, beautiful story about a grandmother and her granddaughter. Sprinkled with words from several languages; Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish, Japanese, Arabic, French and Portuguese.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and moving. So happy that this beautiful picture book about Sephardi Jews exists! Definitely recommended to read to Jewish children (and non Jewish children), to expand the idea of where Jews have lived, their cultures, their journeys, their languages...

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations!

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have so enjoyed Ruth's previous children's fiction books about Cuba.
This is a delight!
Thanks for a lovely family story ---- enjoyed the author's note about her family and how it inspired this story.
The illustrations, by Devon Holzwarth just make you feel "loved".

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first picture book I've read that explores Sephardic Jews living in Cuba and I learned a lot! This would be engaging opening to the history and traditions of that culture to discuss with young ones, with delightfully whimsical illustrations (seriously delightful, thank you, Devin Holzwarth!), a lovely author's note, and a glossary for the French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Yiddish, and Portuguese words and phrases peppered throughout.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet story of losing homes, making new places home and understanding what truly makes a home your own. Lovely illustrations by Devon Holzwarth. Excellent back matter information about the migrations of Sephardic Jews.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We come from people who found hope wherever they went."

Estrella has always loved to visit her Tia Fortuna and her little cottage by the sea. The day has come ,though, for Tia Fortuna to move. Saddened by this predicament, Estrella and Tia Fortuna spend the day together sorting through the memories and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation that have come before them. Soon, Estrella comes to realize that sometimes home doesn't necessarily have to be a house or the possessions inside of it, but the memories that live on your heart.

This was such a wonderful, gentle, and moving story. The bond between Estrella and her grandmother was so touching to read about and reminded me of me and my own grandmother growing up. I also enjoyed learning about the Sephardic Jews, as I had never heard of them before or any of their traditions. The author gently educates us without being too preachy.

I also had no idea that Jewish people immigrated to Cuba in the first place. She touched on this just a little bit in Lucky Broken Girl, her middle grade semi-biographical novel, but this goes a lot more in depth, which is pleasantly surprising for a children's book. It made me want to do more research into Sephardic traditions, and I'm glad to hear there's been a revitalized movement to keep them alive and thriving.

The illustrations alone deserve five stars. The pictures were absolutely gorgeous. They were so colorful and vibrant and honestly did such a wonderful job at setting up the atmosphere of the book.

Speaking of atmosphere, it was exquisite. The author's prose did such a beautiful job at describing Estrella and Tia Fortuna's surroundings. It made me want to own my own little cottage on the beach with nothing but the palm trees swaying in the wind and the sea to lull me to sleep at night.

A short but moving tale of being proud of one's culture and how we can keep it alive for the next generations to come, this melodic tale is a wonderfully written book for both children and adults alike.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shows a great relationship between an older (great?) aunt and her niece at a time when the aunt is leaving her home and moving into a senior community (her home is being torn down, so this isn't her choice -- she's being displaced).

The aunt show how to enjoy the day she has without worrying about the next, as well as about carrying important things in her memories.

She's a Sephardic Jew whose family moved from Spain to Turkey to Cuba to the US over the generations.

She uses Hebrew and Spanish words sprinkled through her conversation.

I like the use of words repeated 3 times: Hola, hola, hola to the palm trees, etc.

She takes her Mezuzah with her, but it's not explained in the text.

[Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this more times than I can count. It has a calming effect on me, which I’m very grateful for. It brought back memories of my eight-year-old self reading aloud to my great grandma.

I think it would be very helpful for anyone struggling with the idea of moving to a nursing home.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caribbean American Heritage Month: Book #2.

Cuba

I gave this book 4 stars because the illustrations were delightful and also for the information at the end of the book.

[Karen Meno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and gentle telling of a Jewish Cuban woman’s exile from Cuba to Miami who then must leave her casita by the see to move to an assisted living home because a luxury hotel is being built. Told through interactions with her young niece on the day she is saying goodbye to her casita, the story reassures young readers that change happens but it will be alright. Tia Fortuna was uprooted once and made a new home and will do so again. She reminds young Estrella there is always hope and joy to be found in living. She doesn’t need much because she has her memories.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural delight! The text is complemented by beautiful illustrations and the Sephardi and Spanish vocab is sprinkled throughout perfectly. I love that it centers a wonderful, loving inter-generational relationship and has Sephardic representation! I'll be buying this one for sure.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical with vibrant illustrations and a powerful theme of what it means to have to leave home again and again and the ways rituals and families help us through.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, I don't know much about Sephardic Jews living in Cuba, but this picture book certainly made me curious to learn more. With a book casing of a suitcase--appropriate for the subject matter--and endpapers blossoming with colorful mementoes of Tia Fortuna's life, the book design is striking. While the specific experiences of Tia Fortuna may be unfamiliar to some readers, they will resonate with others, especially those who have had to leave their homes for one reason or another. In this particular case, Tia Fortuna is packing to move from her beloved home because developers plan to build a hotel after tearing down the houses in her neighborhood. As she prepares to leave, Estrella helps her aunt and marvels at how little she plans to take to her new abode. After all, it has been such a special place for both of them. But even while they walk along the beach and savor tasty treats, Estrella is already missing the place. Tia Fortuna brings food for her new neighbors and settles into her new residence, carrying her memories of the places she has lived and loved with her. She even passes on a small treasure to Estrella. She realizes that perhaps home has more to do with traditions and memories than with a particular place. Created with colorful gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil, the illustrations are culturally rich and filled with sentiment as Tia Fortuna soaks in the sights, sounds, and feelings of her old home and heads toward the new one with eager anticipation. For a deeper appreciation of the story, readers will want to read the Author's Note in the back matter. Given how often individuals and families move these days, this picture book will resonate with many readers.

[Sam Bortle Adelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tía smiles. ‘We come from people who found hope wherever they went.’ ‘Esperanza, esperanza, esperanza,’ I say aloud. And I help Tía pack a box with the rest of the borekas.”

TÍA FORTUNA’S NEW HOME: A JEWISH CUBAN JOURNEY, written by Pure Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, is a warm multicultural ode to what it means to create home within your community and within yourself.

In TÍA FORTUNA’S NEW HOME we meet young Estrella, who is visitng her Tía Fortuna at one of her very favorite places — Tía’s little pink casita at The Seaway. But Tía Fortuna is moving to la casa de los viejos, an old folks home, and Estrella doesn’t understand how her Tía can be so happy on what Estrella thinks should be a sad day. As the two spend the day together — frolicking in the sand under a warming sun, eating borekas, and packing all of Tía’s most important possessions from both her Cuban and Sephardic Jewish culture into a little brown suitcase — Tía Fortuna shows Estrella that memories are things you can take wherever you go.

In a story that touches on the deep loss of displacement, Holzwarth’s watercolor and colored pencil artwork is as welcome as a warm hug. Inspired by the author’s own family history — Behar’s paternal family is of Sephardic Jewish ancestry, originating from Spain by way of Turkey and then Cuba — TÍA FORTUNA’S NEW HOME is a soft yet meaningful exploration of the Jewish diaspora and a celebration of a rich culture and history.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about losing and finding home. Tia Fortuna, a Jewish Cuban woman living in Miami, is forced to move out of her beloved casita, The Seaway, when it is being torn down to make way for a luxury hotel. Her niece, Estrella, is crushed at the thought of losing the Seaway, but Tia Fortuna contextualizes the loss of this home as something she will be able to withstand-- as a sorrowful but powerful part of their shared culture as Sephardic Jews who have been forced to leave and rebuild home time and again over the course of history. I loved how this book incorporated aspects of Sephardic culture seamlessly into the narrative--Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, and Turkish words, borekas, evil eye bracelets, and a mezuzah. An extra rich "home is where the heart is" story.

Themes: Immigration, History/culture, Jewish and Sephardic culture, Latine culture, Family, Home, Gentrification
Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story highlighting the relationship between an aunt and her niece. Tía Fortuna is moving, leaving her pink casita and moving to la casa de los viejos, an old folks home.

Estrella questions why her aunt must leave her home and all the memories made but Tía Fortuna shows her that memories are things you can take wherever you go.

The illustrations by Devon Holzwarth are beautiful. The case cover of the book is a rich, warm brown image of a piece of luggage with gold-covered corners-it’s a beautiful symbol to highlight for a book about moving.

Ruth Behar’s first picture book is special. She weaves nuggets of her Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. It’s a book about tradition, culture, family and the value of old and new memories. This book is also available in English and in Spanish.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about the Sephardic Jewish diaspora. The author based this story on her own heritage, and it's a quiet story about a girl and her aunt. The aunt once lived in Cuba but moved to Miami following the Cuban Revolution. Now, she has to move once again, this time because her house has become subject to eminent domain. It's a positive story in spite of that, which seems to indicate that the Sephardic people view their journey around the world through history has a defining characteristic.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Random House Children’s Books for the advanced electronic copy of this book. This beautifully illustrated lyrical story is about immigration, culture, and family. Very relatable, this can be a wonderful read-aloud honoring Hispanic Heritage Month and author.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tia Fortuna used to live in Cuba. She remembers waving to the ships as they came into the harbor. But one day she had to leave and took only a suitcase of photographs and the mezuzah from the door. Now she lives in a little house at the Seaway. She and her niece visit the beach and talk about the sun and the sea, and the importance of some of Tia's most cherished things, and they make some cookies. She has been there for years and years, but it's time to move again, time to pack only a small suitcase.

Behar's author note is essential. Without it, this is just a story about moving an elderly aunt to a retirement home. The note explains why Tia is Jewish and lived in Cuba, why she moved from Cuba to Miami, what her eye bracelet is all about, and why she keeps the key to her house. This is a connection to Behar's Sephardic ancestry.

The Spanish edition was published at the same time as the English version. The translation is well done, making both stories exactly the same. I really like the illustrations, colorful and bold - just like Tia Fortuna. Tia is of Sephardic heritage.

cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Sue H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tia Fortuna is moving into a home for the elderly, her old home by the sea is being torn down. Little Estrella laments the idea – she will miss everything about the “pink casita” and what is around it. Tia Fortuna, however, doesn’t seem as bothered as she packs her last things and says goodbye to her home and its surroundings. When she settles in, she gives Estrella a precious gift to remind her of her heritage and all the beautiful memories that they have made together. The book is sprinkled with Spanish words and references to Sephardic Jewish beliefs and traditions which author’s note and the glossary highlight and explain. This book is a reminder that wherever we are, and wherever we go, what matters most are the memories that we hold on to. This book is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the traditions of the reader’s family– and would make a terrific addition to a home, classroom, or public library.

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make it a point to read as many Jewish children's books as I can since I never thought to try and find them when I was younger.

This is a wonderful story about a granddaughter and her grandmother, but on a deeper level it's still about the diaspora that Jewish people have and continue to face (and also the way that people who have lived places that are considered vacation spots for rich white families are forced out of their homes for the sake of tourism. I know this is a lot to read into a child's book, but it is there.

I'm glad to see more and more stories focusing on Jewish cultures that are not just Ashkenazi based since there is such a broader history to look at and it's usually ignored or even less about it is known than even Ashkenazi Judaism.

The illustrations were lovely and absolutely beautiful!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming story of hope, resilience, kindness, and love! A girl helps her displaced grandmother move out of her casita into La Casa de los Viejitos. In the process, the girl learns more about her family’s nomadic Sephardic Jewish heritage, which her abuela shares through stories, photos, mementos, recipes, and traditions, plus a special gift that will unlock all the memories of her abuela someday. Colorful illustrations evoke the special relationship shared by the girl and her grandmother, the beauty way of strong faith, and the “amor eterno” of their family lineage. End pages include an Author’s Note about her Jewish ancestry and the relative who was the inspiration for the story, plus a glossary of Spanish words and phrases mentioned in the story.

“Home is not merely where we live, but rather, everything that lives within us.” —Richard Blanco

[Río · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, filled with lovely artwork, follows the story of Tía Fortuna, a Sephardic Jew from Cuba, who is packing her stuff up to make the move to an old folks home. In her final hours at her house on the beach, as well as the first hours in her new home, we see her sharing traditions and quiet yet steady hope with young Estrella. At the end of the book the authors share a note, educating readers about the background history portrayed in this narrative.

In conclusion, this book is a good reminder for all people going through transitions to remember to enjoy what you can and let go what you cannot change, and it is a good lesson more specifically on the beauty of diversity and the value of sharing traditions.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacArthur Grant recipient and Bura Pelpre award winner Ruth Behar draws from some of her family history and traditions to tell the tale of a Shepardic Jewish woman Fortuna whose family after leaving Spain for Turkey and eventually Cuba, was then forced to leave Cuba and settled in Miami. She finds herself on the move one more time as she leaves her home for an apartment. She spends the final day in her seaside casita with her niece and reminds her that home is really more about where the heart is and not just a physical location. Behar sprinkles words from different cultures throughout the story with a glossary included at the end. Holwarth's illustrations are bright and full of joy. It is a wonderful picture book to introduce a culture which many readers will not know about.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estrella helps her tía Fortuna move from her casita by the sea in Miami to the Home for the Aged and say goodbye to the home she's lived in since she moved from Cuba to the U.S. This book talks about Sephardic Jews, who aren't talked a lot. Tía has already had many moves, following along the history of this group, whose religion has forced them around the world. Places and things mean a lot, but family, friends, and memories can be moved from place to place. The illustrator does a great job incorporating different parts of tía's culture into the pictures.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, precious, beautiful book that I am so glad is in the world. It is an #ownvoices story of a Jewish-Cuban young girl and her Tia. Over the course of moving day for Tia Fortuna, she shows her niece, Estrella, how to hold on to memories while embracing new chapters in life. I loved the author's note where she tells us about the journey of Sephardic Jews to Cuba and from there to Miami; each time they were forced from their homes by discrimination and war, and each time found a way to preserve and celebrate their culture.