Title: Marco, Pablo, & Olivia
Author: Ana Cortes
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre: Children’s Literature, Graphic Novel
First Publication: 2022
Language: English
Book Summary: Marco, Pablo, & Olivia by Ana Cortes
Meet the Costa kids…Marco, Pablo, and Olivia are two brothers and a sister who came from the mountains of Ecuador. The three kids grew up in a farmhouse with their parents and very little means. After their dad got a high-paying job, Marco, Pablo, Olivia, and their parents move into the coast for a fresh start.
The Costa sibling’s lives turn into a wild ride when they make new friends, set off on adventures, celebrate traditions, deal with rivals, embark on journeys, and experience things they never thought they could have experienced before.
Marco, Pablo, & Olivia is a crafted book filled with nine stand-alone mini-stories that features the beautiful culture of Ecuador, morality, and magic!
Story One
The Costas: Marco, Pablo, Olivia, and their parents move into their new house in Guayaquil, Ecuador. As the three siblings explore their new neighborhood, Marco discovers there is a tryout for a soccer team. Marco is eager to try out, and Pablo and Olivia are there to cheer for him. But Marco will have to face a prejudiced teenager named, Víctor, who is also trying out for the team.
Book Review:
Moving into a new house may be an exciting experience in many ways. However, it can also be quite traumatic, particularly for children who are leaving behind familiar homes and play areas. This playful and endearing book celebrates sibling bonds as Marco, Pablo, Olivia, and their parents move into a new house in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and make it their own.
After seeing the inside of their new home for the first time, the three siblings, Marco, Olivia, and Pablo, start to become excited about the possibility of decorating their own individual bedrooms. While they were assessing their surroundings, their mother informed them that there was a soccer field not far away. As soon as Marco heard about it, he expressed an instant desire to go there with his siblings, and when they did, they learned that there would soon be a tryout for the soccer team.
However, when they speak to the team, they discover that one member of the team, Victor, does not want Marco to be a part of the team. He belittles Marco and tries to persuade him not to show up for the auditions, but Marco is adamant about going. Olivia and Pablo are now tasked with the responsibility of assisting their brother Marco in completing the tryouts and earning a spot on the team.
The interaction between the siblings is precious and shows just how much love they have for one another as they seek to reassure themselves amid all this change. Olivia and Pablo are constantly there to support Marco throughout his football trials, during which he must contend with a competitor and prejudiced teenager called Victor.
Keeping her vocabulary simple, author Ana Cortes builds the world of Marco, Pablo, & Olivia with admirable skill. You instantly understand the relationship between the siblings from the start. Then there’s the writing itself. Ana’s phrasings are beautifully worked throughout the text, and there are funny moments, both visual and evident in the text. The text and illustrations show plenty of imagination by Ana Cortes.
This one would be perfect to share with anyone moving into a new house or city, since it mirrors so perfectly some of the fears and excitement that might be associated with such a change. After all, if it’s true that there’s no place like home, what happens when that home, with all its familiarity, is no longer around? It’s pretty clear that just about anyone would cling to anything that is familiar in those new surroundings, as is seen here. Funny and engaging, this story of moving in and settling in is both heart-warming and house-warming. Highly recommended for any children about to make a big move, but also for children who need a little reminder that you can have lots of fun.
