 Hi, I'm Yvonne Marquez with Adelita's Revenge, and this is Marina Karanzen with Adelita's Revenge. And today we're reading Lani Ray's marvelous hair and partnering up with the Long Beach Public Library. Here we go. Lani Ray has many talents, but no matter what she is doing or where she travels, there's always one thing that everyone notices about her before they spot anything else. Lani Ray has the longest and most marvelous hair anyone has ever seen. Wow, look at that beautiful hair someone calls out. Her hair is so long that it sways behind her like a tail when she walks. And when she runs, it unravels like a silky ribbon behind her. Almost like your hair. Very beautiful hair. Lani Ray always has the most gigantic bun in ballet, and the longest braids in Jiu Jitsu, and the grandest locks in the school. After class, Lani Ray and her friend Lila love to practice their dance moves. Together they twirl and swirl, and Lani Ray's hair spins around them. But some days her hair seems much too lengthy. Her mane can be very burly to tame. Sometimes it spins into places where it doesn't belong. She still loves her hair so. Lani Ray and Lila love to pretend they're superheroes. If I were a superhero, Lani Ray and Lila love to pretend they're superheroes. Lani Ray often proclaims, if I were a superhero, my secret weapon would be my hair. I could stop one crime at a time with a simple flip of my hair. But one day Lila is not at ballet class. In fact, she's missed several. Concerned Lani Ray calls her friend, but Lila's mother tells her that Lila's unable to come to the phone. Is Lila okay? She loves ballet and Lani Ray stammers. In a somber voice, Lila's mother explains that Lila's sick. Lila has cancer and is getting treatment. She is going through many changes. But we are confident she will make a full recovery. So many thoughts flutter through Lani Ray's head as she tries hard to hold back her tears. Lani Ray drops the phone and runs to her mother. The only thing she can do is bury her grieving face into the blanket of shiny hair as she clutches onto her mother. Suddenly with a trembling voice, Lani Ray cries, I wish there was something I could do for Lila. Holding her tight, Lani Ray's mother answers, it's okay to be sad, but there is something you can do. You can still be a wonderful friend to Lila and be there when she needs you and understand that some days she will need to be alone. Lani Ray learns that one change Lila is going through due to her treatment is losing her hair. Lila has lost her confidence and self-esteem. She can barely recognize her own reflection. These changes are hard to cope with on top of being sick. Lani Ray has an idea. I will create a beautiful picture to give to Lila. That will cheer her up, thinks Lani Ray, but she still feels she has more to do. Next, Lani Ray bakes some delicious cupcakes for Lila. Who doesn't love cupcakes? She's a good caring friend. Yeah, who doesn't love cupcakes? thinks Lani Ray, but she still feels like she has more to do. Finally, Lani Ray has a brilliant idea and she asked her mom for help. The following day, both Lani Ray and her mother go to the hair salon. Lani Ray asks the stylist to cut off almost all of her hair. She's going to donate it to a place that makes wigs for those who are sick and trying to get better, just like Lila. Lani Ray examines her new do with a gleaming smile across her face and a warmth in her heart. It's marvelous. Such a good little heart. Lila smiles so bright it lights up her eyes when she learns what her friend has done. Lani Ray's heart feels like it swirls and twirling just like when she and Lila used to dance together. It may not solve everything, but it's one action that can make the road to recovery a little smoother. Lani Ray still loves her hair, but she discovers that her new superpower is the act of kindness and being a good friend. And this was Lani Ray's Marvelous Hair by Yasenya Rodriguez and we're so happy to have her in our store. Please come visit us at Adelita's Revenge. We're on 4th and Terminal in Long Beach. Adios. Thank you.