Please Don't Go

Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN 0-439-47523-6
$3.99/Canada $5.50
Chapter Book
119 pages
Ages 7 to 10

Illustrations copyright 2004 by Joe Cepeda

That's Gabí. As in Ga-BEE. Not Gabi. And it does not rhyme with blabby! And she does NOT talk too much!

WATCH OUT WORLD! ¡GABÍ ESTÁ AQUÍ!
(THAT MEANS: GABÍ IS HERE!)

Gabi is on a top secret mission. Her grandma has to go back home to Puerto Rico ... unless Gabi can come up with a plan to make her stay. What will it take? Begging her not to go? Adopting a family of baby animals? Or will Gabi have to try something sneakier?

Gabi knows one thing for sure: She won't say good-bye. She'd rather eat stinky socks! Gaby will figure out a way to help Abuelita (that's her grandma) ... even if it means getting into big-time trouble.

Joe Cepeda was presented with the ALA's 2002 Pura Belpré Honor Book Award for illustration for his artwork in Juan Bobo Goes to Work (also written by Marisa Montes). He has illustrated award-winning picture books for Scholastic such as Mice and Beans, What a Truly Cool World, and Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey. He also creates paintings and drawings for book jackets, magazines, and newspapers. Joe likes Gabí's attitude, but he really relates to Papi because he's an "absentminded kind of guy." Joe says "I'm like that...I could put a tool in the refrigerator." Joes lives in southern California with his wife and son (who looks sort of like Gabí's little brother, Miguelito).