What does it take for a child to begin again in a country that feels completely unfamiliar?
For eight-year-old Luli, the answer is found not in one dramatic moment, but in a series of small, unforgettable firsts. In Lourdes Fasani’s five-book collection, Luli’s Sad Farewell, Luli’s Cafeteria Lunch, Luli’s First Autumn, Luli’s First Thanksgiving and Luli’s First Snowfall, young readers follow a Cuban immigrant girl as she leaves behind the life she knows and slowly discovers how a new place can begin to feel like home.
The journey begins with Luli’s Sad Farewell, the most emotional starting point in the series. Luli leaves Marianao, Cuba, with her mother and younger brother, saying goodbye to family, familiar places and treasured possessions. The departure is painful, especially when she must leave behind her beloved doll and family photographs. Yet the sadness of leaving is balanced by hope: after traveling through Miami and being processed at the Freedom Tower, Luli continues to Chicago, where she is finally reunited with her father after more than two years apart.
Once Luli arrives in Illinois, belonging becomes something she must learn one experience at a time.
In Luli’s Cafeteria Lunch, something as ordinary as school lunch feels completely strange. Luli has never eaten in a school cafeteria, is surprised by ice-cold milk and has no idea what broccoli is. With help from her mother, she finds a creative way to make these unfamiliar foods easier to enjoy. By the end, she is happily eating lunch beside her new classmates, showing how adaptation can happen gradually and without abandoning what feels familiar.
Luli’s First Autumn continues that sense of discovery. Coming from Cuba, where she had not experienced colorful fall foliage or Halloween traditions, Luli is fascinated by red and orange leaves, pumpkins, costumes and a school parade. Her excitement grows as she is given the chance to participate, helping her feel more connected to her new community.
In Luli’s First Thanksgiving, cultural adjustment becomes cultural sharing. Luli’s family celebrates Thanksgiving with their neighbors, combining American dishes such as turkey and pumpkin pie with Cuban favorites including pork roast, congrí, yuca, plantains and flan. The meal becomes a beautiful symbol of two traditions existing side by side.
Finally, Luli’s First Snowfall captures the wonder of encountering winter for the first time. Luli looks outside and thinks the yard is covered in sugar. Snow, Christmas decorations, familiar Cuban foods and a long-hoped-for Barbie doll make the season both new and comforting.
Together, these five books create a warm and meaningful portrait of immigration through a child’s eyes. Lourdes Fasani shows that belonging is not about forgetting where you came from. It is about carrying your memories with you while making room for new experiences, new friendships and new traditions.
Read the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FVGJBMBR/allbooks
