A young bilingual immigrant meanders through her city park, translating

for her beloved dog, in this heartwarming picture book debut.

My Dog Just Speaks Spanish

Andrea Cáceres

When Aurora came to the United States, she learned to speak English. But her spaniel, Nena,
did not. Sweet Nena loves to give besos, and she knows only Spanish. She doesn’t know SIT,
but she does know SIÉNTATE. She doesn’t know WAIT, but she does know ESPERA. And while
TREAT doesn’t mean anything to Nena, she can certainly sniff out a POSTRE! At the park, Nena
may not know what the other dog owners are saying, but she and Aurora will always understand
each other just fine. Borrowing from her lived experience, Venezuelan American author-illustrator
Andrea Cáceres offers a gentle, charmingly illustrated ode to love that extends a hand—or a paw—
to readers who may feel displaced or are learning a new language themselves.

ON SALE MAY 9, 2023

My Dog Just Speaks Spanish
English HC: 978-1-5362-2278-4
Mi perro solo habla español
Spanish HC: 978-1-5362-2988-2
Illustration copyright © 2023 by Andrea Cáceres

$17.99 ($23.99 CAN)

Ages 2–5 • 32 pages
Also available as e-books
 A note from Andrea Cáceres
Since I was a little kid, I have always been passionate about storytelling.
I used to pretend that I had a neighborhood newspaper and even went
so far as to print it and deliver it to other houses! I used to perform
plays for my mom and her friends, and I had a notebook full of my
favorite comics that I cut out of magazines.

I’m so overwhelmed and happy to now, as an adult, be able to have

my debut children’s book with Candlewick and to be able to tell a
story that is so close to my heart. My Dog Just Speaks Spanish is a story
inspired by my emigration from Venezuela to the US. I moved to NYC
Photo by gonzzandrea

knowing basic English and learned the language by reading comic

books and children’s books. ANDREA CÁCERES is an
author, illustrator, and art
I moved by myself with the hope of finding a new home. However, that
director. Her work, much of it
home would never be home without my dog. So when I was ready, featuring dogs, has appeared
as I always planned, I brought him here. I was so excited to show in countless product campaigns
everybody his tricks, but they weren’t working. Then I realized: MY and commissions. About My
DOG JUST SPEAKS SPANISH! Dog Just Speaks Spanish/
Mi perro solo habla español,
I have known my dog, Tobi, since I was seventeen years old. He is my
her debut picture book, she
best friend and the biggest constant in my life. He knows me better
says, “Tobi, my silky terrier,
than anybody, and he knows he can trust that I would always be there
and I spent years speaking
for him. But like me, when Tobi moved to the US, he had to learn some only Spanish, and it was very
new words, since he only spoke Spanish. interesting to see him react to
a different language when he
Recent studies have shown that dogs are able to realize when different
moved to the US. See if you can
languages are spoken, so for an old dog like him, it must have been a
spot Tobi in this book!” Andrea
significant change! Luckily I was there to help him, and he was there to
Cáceres was born in Venezuela
cheer me up every time I needed him.
and is based in New York City.
My Dog Just Speaks Spanish talks She can be found at

about how with unconditional www.andreacaceres.com,

on Instagram @andrecaceresg,
love, we can adapt to new
and on TikTok @petartbyandrea.
circumstances and help
each other. It’s a book about
immigration, language, and best
friends.

Illustration copyright © 2023 by Andrea Cáceres