A Heartfelt Story About Love, Loss, and the Magic That Never Leaves Us
The Magic of Papi follows Emil, a young boy determined to share the story of his father, Leonardo Eleodoro Guillen, the man he lovingly called Papi. Through Emil’s eyes, readers meet a joyful father who filled life with music, dancing, baseball, laughter, and endless love for his family.
When Papi becomes sick and passes away, Emil is left struggling with emotions he cannot fully understand. With the support of his mami, siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, he begins to learn what grief means and how people cope in different ways through laughter, reflection, movement, and connection.
Over time, Emil discovers an important truth: the magic of Papi never disappeared. It lives on through memory, love, and the moments they shared.
Why This Book Matters
The Magic of Papi was created to help fill a meaningful gap in children’s literature. Stories that help children of color process grief and loss remain limited, yet every child deserves to see their family, culture, and emotions reflected in the books they read.
This story offers young readers a compassionate guide through loss while encouraging honest conversations about grief, healing, and remembrance.
Perfect For
Children coping with the loss of a loved one
Families navigating conversations about grief and death
Parents, teachers, counselors, and caregivers
Readers who value stories centered on love, healing, and family
About The Author
Eduardo Baez is a Dominican American author and storyteller born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx. Deeply shaped by the culture, rhythm, and resilience of New York City, Eduardo grew up surrounded by the music, traditions, and strong sense of community that continue to influence his work today. Proud of his Dominican roots, his storytelling reflects the warmth, emotion, and interconnectedness that define so many Caribbean families.
His writing is grounded in emotional honesty and cultural representation, exploring themes of love, grief, memory, identity, and healing. Through deeply personal stories, Eduardo aims to create work that resonates with children and families while reflecting communities that are still too often underrepresented in children’s literature.
The inspiration for The Magic of Papi came after his father, Leonardo Eleodoro Guillen, passed away. While navigating his own grief, Eduardo began reflecting on how few meaningful resources exist to help children of color process loss in ways that feel compassionate, familiar, and culturally grounded. What began as a personal tribute eventually became a heartfelt story created to help children feel seen, understood, and supported during one of life’s most difficult experiences.
With The Magic of Papi, Eduardo hopes to remind readers that grief does not erase love. The people we lose continue to live on through memory, tradition, laughter, music, and the lasting impact they leave on our lives. His work is ultimately a celebration of family, remembrance, culture, and the quiet ways healing begins.
Eduardo currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Gigi, where he continues to write stories centered on connection, culture, and the power of emotional storytelling.
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Whether you have a question about The Magic of Papi, would like to collaborate, invite me to speak, or simply want to share your story, I would love to hear from you.
Stories have the power to connect us, heal us, and remind us that we are never alone. Thank you for being here and for supporting meaningful storytelling centered on love, grief, family, and hope.