AR: 4.3

There was a lot of movement in this book and also surprisingly little focus on the birthday. First Josefina goes to the village to help Tia Magdalena, and later she visits the nearby pueblo. Tia Magdalena (a curandera or traditional healer) teaches her how different plants are used. Disappointingly, but not surprisingly after seeing how Tripp can avoid mentioning slavery on a plantation setting in the Felicity books, the difference between the pueblo and village aren't explored. The difference between the native people and customs and the Spanish ones isn't mentioned. Josefina's Native American friend is just used as a quick plot device.

The best thing about this one is that there is a cute baby goat (of whom there are not enough illustrations). ( )

Josefina hopes to become a "curandera" or healer like Tia Magdalena, and she is tested just before her tenth birthday when a friend received a potentially fatal snakebite.

Spanish Book.

Josefina visits her Tia Magdalena to learn about herbs and healing and runs away when she accidentally breaks something while cleaning. She learns to be brave and saves the life of her friend. ( )