Tres nuevas hermanitas para Mathew
Inspired by a true story
By Jim Luce
Inspirado en una historia real
Por Jim Luce
Page/Spread Numbering Drift (Needs Fixing)
Because you interleaved text + illustration notes as you went, a few spreads are out of order or duplicated.
Examples:
The camping scene appears once in text, but twice in illustration order
The “Montage” (sharing toys / holidays) appears after Christmas text
👉 Fix: Decide on ONE canonical 12-spread order and align everything to it.
Minor Typography / Formatting (WordPress-level)
Add a space after periods in Spanish (“Todos hablaban al mismo tiempo.Todos…”)
Normalize em-dashes vs hyphens in dialogue
0. COVER – Scene: Mathew standing slightly unsure but smiling, flanked by Lucía, Elena, and Rosa. Three small Shih Tzu at their feet. Background: narrow two-story wooden house. Tone: warm, inviting, gentle chaos.
One day, when Mathew was five years old, Daddy and Papa got a phone call. After
the call, they sat with Mathew at the kitchen table. “Three little girls need a place to
stay for a while,” Daddy said. “They’re sisters,” Papa added. “And they need help.”
Un día, cuando Mathew tenía cinco años, Papá y Papa recibieron una llamada por
teléfono. Después de la llamada, se sentaron con Mathew en la mesa de la cocina.
—Tres niñas pequeñas necesitan un lugar donde quedarse por un tiempo —dijo Papá.
—Son hermanas —agregó Papa—. Y necesitan ayuda.
1-2. Illustration: Interior of the narrow house kitchen. Daddy and Papa seated at the table with Mathew. One Shih Tzu begging near the table, one asleep, one alert. Light coming through a window.
Mathew thought very hard. “I’ve always wanted a sister,” he said slowly.
He paused. “But three is a lot of girl power.” Daddy and Papa smiled.
“Okay,” Mathew said at last. “They can come.”
Mathew pensó con mucho cuidado.—Siempre he querido tener una hermana
—dijo despacio. Hizo una pausa.—Pero tres son mucho poder femenino.
Papá y Papa sonrieron. —Está bien—dijo Mathew por fin—. Pueden venir.
3-4. Illustration. Close-up of Mathew thinking hard. Visual thought bubble with three stick-figure sisters (optional, subtle). Parents smiling reassuringly.
The next day, the doorbell rang. Three girls stood on the porch with a woman
named Mrs. Gupta. They each carried a small bag. “This is Lucía,” Mrs. Gupta said.
“And Elena. And Rosa.” Lucía waved. Elena held her sister’s hand. Rosa hid
behind her bear. “Wow,” Mathew whispered. “That’s a lot of sisters.”
Al día siguiente, sonó el timbre. Tres niñas estaban en el porche con una mujer llamada
la señora Gupta. Cada una llevaba una bolsita.—Esta es Lucía —dijo la señora Gupta—.
Y esta es Elena. Y esta es Rosa. Lucía saludó con la mano. Elena tomó la mano de su hermana.
Rosa se escondió detrás de su osito.—Guau —susurró Mathew—. Son muchas hermanas.
5-6. Illustration: Front porch of the Archie Bunker–style narrow wooden house. Mrs. Gupta with Lucía, Elena, and Rosa holding small bags. Shih Tzu peeking through the door crack.
Mathew helped show them around the house. He showed them the kitchen. The living room.
Their own bedroom with three beds. And his favorite place of all—the pool in the backyard.
Mathew les ayudó a conocer la casa. Les mostró la cocina. La sala. Su propio cuarto
con tres camas. Y su lugar favorito de todos: la piscina en el patio trasero.
7-8. Illustration: Lucía waving, Elena holding a hand, Rosa behind her bear. Mathew whispering “That’s a lot of sisters.” Dogs circling curiously.
They went shopping for clothes together. The girls loved pink. Pink shirts. Pink shoes.
Pink swimsuits. Mathew tried to be supportive. Pink was not his favorite color.
Fueron juntos a comprar ropa. A las niñas les encantaba el color rosa. Camisas rosas. Zapatos
rosas. Trajes de baño rosas. Mathew trató de ser comprensivo. El rosa no era su color favorito.
9-10. Illustration: Montage-style spread: Narrow staircase. Cozy living room. Bedroom with three beds lined up. Backyard glimpse with inflatable pool and inflatable green dragon. Dogs appear in each mini-scene.
That summer, they swam. They played. They told stories before bedtime. Three little
dogs curled up nearby. Sometimes the girls whispered words Mathew didn’t know.
Daddy smiled and said, “That’s okay. Families have lots of ways to talk.”
Ese verano nadaron. Jugaron. Contaron historias antes de dormir. Tres perritos se
acurrucaron cerca. A veces las niñas susurraban palabras que Mathew no conocía.
Papa sonrió y dijo:—Está bien. Las familias tienen muchas formas de hablar.
11-12. Illustration: Clothing store chaos. Pink everywhere. Mathew holding a pink one-piece swimsuit with mixed feelings. Dogs imagined tangled in shopping bags (playful, optional).
They even went camping in a big park. At night, they slept in
sleeping bags in their big tent and listened to the sounds of the forest.
También fueron a acampar a un parque grande. Por la noche, durmieron en
sacos de dormir dentro de su gran tienda y escucharon los sonidos del bosque.
13–14. Illustration: Evening bedroom scene. Kids in pajamas, three beds. Girls whispering. Mathew leaning in door frame. Daddy smiling gently. Three Shih Tzu curled up nearby.
When summer ended, the girls stayed. They went to school with Mathew.
Sometimes they felt sad. They missed their mom and dad very much.
Cuando terminó el verano, las niñas se quedaron. Fueron a la escuela con Mathew.
Extrañaban mucho a su mamá y a su papá. A veces se sentían tristes.
15–16. Illustration: Big tent in a forest at night. Sleeping bags. Stars overhead. Dogs outside the tent, one alert, two asleep.
Mathew wanted to cheer them up. So he shared his toys. And his
snacks. And his hugs. Soon it was Halloween. Then Thanksgiving.
Mathew quiso animarlas. Así que compartió sus juguetes. Y sus meriendas.
Y sus abrazos. Pronto llegó Halloween. Luego el Día de Acción de Gracias.
17-18. Illustration: Red brick school exterior. Mathew walking with the girls. One girl looking back sadly. Dogs not present (school boundary reinforces reality).
One chilly day, just before Christmas, there was a knock on the door.
Lucía, Elena, and Rosa’s parents had come. Everyone talked at once.
Everyone hugged. Mathew started to hum a song he knew. 🎵 Feliz Navidad… 🎵
Un día frío, poco antes de Navidad, alguien tocó la puerta. Los padres de Lucía,
Elena y Rosa habían llegado. Todos hablaban al mismo tiempo. Todos se abrazaban.
Mathew empezó a tararear una canción que conocía. 🎵 Feliz Navidad… 🎵
19-20. Text: Illustration: Montage: Sharing toys. Sharing snacks. Group hug. Halloween costumes. Thanksgiving table. Dogs present in all home scenes.
Lucía laughed. Elena clapped. Rosa danced in her socks. When it was time to say goodbye,
Mathew hugged each sister very tight. The house felt quieter after they left.
Lucía se rió. Elena aplaudió. Rosa bailó con sus calcetines. Cuando llegó
el momento de despedirse, Mathew abrazó fuerte a cada hermanita.
La casa se sintió más silenciosa después de que se fueron.
21-22. Illustration: Front door open. Joyful reunion. Mathew humming. Lucía laughing, Elena clapping, Rosa dancing in white socks. Dogs excited — one barking, one spinning.
At Christmas, Mathew missed them. But Daddy said, “Love doesn’t go away
just because someone leaves.” Mathew nodded. He knew it was true.
12. En Navidad, Mathew las extrañó. Pero Papá dijo:—El amor no se va
solo porque alguien se va. Mathew asintió. Sabía que era verdad.
23-24. Illustration: Final quiet scene: Mathew on the couch at Christmas. Tree lights glowing. Three Shih Tzu curled beside him. Fathers nearby. Warm but spacious composition.
Inspired by a true story. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect children’s privacy.
Illustration Notes
Overall Visual Tone
- Warm, realistic, calm
- Contemporary but timeless
- No caricature
- Diversity portrayed naturally, without emphasis
- Gentle facial expressions, soft lighting
The House (Important – Consistent Setting)
Archie Bunker / All in the Family–style home
- Narrow, two-story, vinyl siding, Queens street, small brick front porch with steps
- Interior: Cozy, lived-in, narrow staircase, wall-to-wall beige carpeting, windows with white lace curtains, overstuffed floral couch
Backyard
- Small fenced backyard (old, gray wooden slats, five feet tall)
- Swing set that has seen better days
- Inflatable pool (blue)
- Inflatable dragon floating in the pool (important visual anchor)
- Summer light, playful atmosphere
Elementary School
- Red brick school building
- Simple, classic American public school
- Playground or front steps visible
- Neutral signage (no city names)
Character Notes
- Mathew: Chinese-Indonesian, expressive, thoughtful, age five
- Lucía: Latina, confident, open posture, age five
- Elena: Latina,gentle, observant, often holding hands, age four
- Rosa: Latina,youngest, physical, attached to stuffed bear, age three
- Daddy: White man, brown hair with glasses, professional looking – calm, reassuring, affectionate without exaggeration.
- Papa: Indonesian, no glasses, black hair, fit, stylish
- Girls’ Blood Mom & Dad: Youngish, Latin American
Key Illustration Moments to Emphasize
- Three beds lined up in one bedroom
- Pink explosion at mall clothing store
- Whispering moment (soft, intimate)
- Camping tent at night (forest sounds implied visually)
- Feliz Navidad moment (movement, joy, white socks!)
- Final quiet Christmas scene (empty space, warmth remains)
Cultural Sensitivity Notes
- No stereotypes
- Spanish language suggested visually, not labeled
- Emphasis on belonging, not difference
The three Shih Tzu are perfect for this story.
They echo:
- three girls
- temporary chaos
- warmth, softness, and comic relief
Illustration Notes: The Three Shih Tzu (Very Important)
Breed & Look
- Three Shih Tzu
- Small, fluffy, expressive
- Different coat colors or markings so illustrators can distinguish them
- e.g. one cream, one gray-and-white, one tan
Personality Cues (Visual Only)
- One curious / alert
- One sleepy / cuddly
- One playful / underfoot
(These can mirror Lucía, Elena, and Rosa subtly — a lovely visual rhyme.)
3. Where the Shih Tzu Should Appear (Recurring Easter Eggs)
They should quietly appear on many pages, even when not mentioned:
- At the kitchen table (one begging)
- On the stairs of the narrow house
- By the inflatable dragon pool
- Tangled in pink shopping bags
- Outside the tent while camping
- During Feliz Navidad (one dancing, one barking)
- In the final Christmas scene (curled up, calm)
4. Illustration Notes Addendum (Drop-In)
You can add this verbatim to the illustrator brief:
Three Shih Tzu live in the home and appear throughout the book. They should be treated as gentle background companions—sometimes playful, sometimes sleepy—adding warmth, humor, and continuity across scenes.
5. Quiet Symbolism (Why This Is So Good)
Without ever saying it:
- Three girls arrive
- Three dogs already live there
- Everyone makes room