by Gabriella Aldeman (Author), Rocío Arreola Mendoza (Illustrator)
Problem-solver Paula patches her pants--and encourages her class to be resourceful, mend, and reuse.
Oh, no! While at school, Paula's pants catch on a bush that rips a large hole in her pants. She tries everything to hide the hole from her classmates, only to find out that they, too, have leaky lunchboxes, spaghetti stains, and hand-me-down backpacks. Nothing some colorful patches can't fix! Children will follow Paula as she feels embarrassed about her torn pants, curious about patches, and excited for a possible solution that helps both her and her classmates.
Paula's Patches can be used as a starting point for discussions of consumerism, throwaway culture, and fast fashion. At the back of the book, a section provides activities for children, including how to make their own patches, no-sew bookmarks, and fabric pouches.
A 2025 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominee, 2024 International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention, and 2023 Foreword INDIES Finalist.
Author Biography
Gabriella Aldeman is a Panamanian American author. She writes picture books in hopes that more children become readers and that all readers feel seen. She is also a professional translator and holds degrees from Georgetown University and the College of William and Mary.
Gabriella lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with her partner and two children.
Number of Pages: 32
Dimensions: 0.4 x 10.2 x 10.1 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
