Rica Baptista: The Box of Possibilities

Rica and Laini can’t imagine what’s inside the mysterious box sent from anything-but-ordinary Uncle Moose. Or can they? Lively creativity and humor shine in Rica’s latest adventure.
Rica and her best friend Laini are bubbling over with curiosity. A mystery box has appeared on Rica’s doorstep, and nobody will open it! Momma says they must wait for Uncle Moose, who mailed the box to himself. But he’s on vacation in Cape Verde and won’t be home for days. So Rica and Laini speculate about what’s inside: a fold-up car from the future, a stuffed giraffe who turns into a real giraffe, magical perma-frozen ice cream? Or even better, superpowers! Rica and Laini practice their own superpowers—like flying (zip line and jumping) and invisibility (tiptoeing and hiding)—to get ready for the big reveal, even in the face of Rica’s cousin Serenity’s disbelief. Could superpowers be real, and will Rica’s true superpower emerge when Uncle Moose finally returns? A funny story of family and possibility, enhanced by charming illustrations.

Janet Costa Bates is the author of Time for Bed, Old House, illustrated by AG Ford, and two more books about Rica Baptista. Her grandparents, like Rica’s ancestors, emigrated from Cape Verde. Janet Costa Bates lives in Massachusetts.
Gladys Jose is the illustrator of several books for young readers. She lives in Florida with her husband and daughter.