Finding My Wave

by Alexandra Katona, Sara Palacios (Illustrator)

Mia finds her bravery and catches her first real wave while surfing with her abuela in this joyful, lyrical picture book that's perfect for summer and for grandparent/grandchild sharing.

One early morning, Mia and her abuela head to the ocean to surf. But Mia's tummy is churning wildly. Will she finally be able to make it past the whitewash? The way the waves are crashing makes her feel very small, and she admits to her grandmother that she's afraid. "It's OK to be scared, mi amor," her abuelita says. "Become friends with your fears and they turn into courage."

And so, with Lita's guidance and a newfound bravery, Mia is finally able to pop to her feet on the board. "¡Wepa!" her abuela cheers as Mia glides through the water, her heart leaping out of her chest. It's unlike anything in the world, and now she's ready to find the next wave and the next.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Storytime, Summer, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[Bookworm4Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia and her Abuelita love to go surfing but the crashing of the waves sometimes makes Mia feel small and worried. Abuelita tells Mia to become friends with her fear so they don't scare her. As they surf, Mia learns how to make friends with the waves and find her own.

A good story to help teach kids how to deal with what scares them. It was also fun to read about a kid who surfs because I've always wanted to try it but haven't gotten the chance too. I hope to someday.

[Kim Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book. My daughter (8yo) and I live near the beach and loved the illustrations of the ocean and the surf culture vibes. More than anything, we loved the message about facing your fears and realizing you can do hard things. The relationship between the girl and her grandmother is so sweet.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Mia, a brown-skinned Latina child and her abuelita, live near the beach in a tropical area. Mia loves the sound of the ocean but it also makes her anxious. Will today be the day she finally is able to conquer her fear and surf past the whitewash?

A wonderful book for an example of courage.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up as far away from the world of surfing as a kid could get.
Now I live where surfing is a huge part of the community culture and it is fascinating!
This book is one that my library patrons are certain to gravitate towards.

[Mariann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about overcoming fear. I will likely quote abuela's advice about "Befriending your fears to turn fear into courage".

[Patrick C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding My Wave beautifully blends finding your courage, connecting with a grandparent, and deepening one's love for the ocean. Highly recommend!

[Kelly]

I was very happy for this girl.

[Alyssa Mandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about a granddaughter with help from her grandmother finding her courage to surf the waves.