This reminded me a bit of O Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" because it's about wanting to buy something nice for someone you love, but it doesn't work out the way you plan.

I thought this story was so sweet and full of love, so I was baffled by negative reviews from Kirkus and SLJ. Another recent picture book, I REALLY WANT TO SEE YOU GRANDMA by Taro Gomi, also depicts a strong bond between grandmother and grandchild, leaving the parents out of the picture, but it's clear the grandmother is not the primary caregiver. ( )

This book is a story about an abuela and her granddaughter, and the fun things they do together. This was a good story, but a little flat and didn't really pull me in. But the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter illustrated in this story was really special. This book would be appropriate for early readers. ( )

A Gift from Abuela is a beautiful book about a grandmother who wants to do something special for her granddaughter Nina. However, after saving up so much money to do something special, something bad happens ruining her plans. This is a great book to show how even during financial troubles what matters is the relationship that you have with your family, because that is worth way more than what money has to offer. ( )

Sometimes the most important thing to hold on to is each other.

Nominated by Goodreads as a best children's book of 2018, this is a story of intergenerational family love. Abuela falls in love with her granddaughter, Niña, at birth, and they love spending time together playing, cavorting, and visiting the local park to eat pan dulce. Abuela starts to save her money to buy a special gift, but economic times become difficult in Mexico City, and her savings appear to become worthless, but aren't. Nice illustrations too. 3.5 stars. ( )

A Gift From Abuela is a great book about life situations. How life changes so quickly, one moment we enjoy one thing and try to save money, another moment we have trouble saving money and too tired to do anything we once did. I loved the ending where Nina come to visit her Abuela and helped her by cleaning up her house and found the worthless money but still enjoyed their time together with it and something they always enjoyed doing going to the park together. ( )