Daniel Miyares on How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

In this post, we feature author and illustrator Daniel Miyares, whose previous, acclaimed titles include Float, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. You can hear him speak about his new graphic memoir, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, which has been named a Horn Book Best Book of the Year among many other honors. You can also try his “invitation to imagine” activities and find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

Written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Published by Anne Schwartz Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Release date: September 30, 2025

This dramatic coming-of-age memoir, told in the form of a graphic novel, follows 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author’s father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family’s harrowing escape to America. The year is 1957. Carlos lives with his family in Ceiba Mocha, a small town in the Cuban countryside. He loves to play baseball and shoot home-made slingshots with his abuelo. When rebel leader Fidel Castro overthrows the existing Cuban president, the entire country is thrust into revolution. Suddenly, Papi disappears. Carlos’ mother tells him that Papi has gone to America, and that their whole family will soon join him. But Carlos really doesn’t want to leave Cuba, the only home he’s ever known. Besides, how will they get to America when Castro’s soldiers are policing their every move? Will Carlos ever see his father again? This powerful book about a boy coming of age amid massive political upheaval tells a timeless story of one family’s quest for freedom and for a new place to call home.

An interior spread from How to Say Goodbye in Cuban showing cottages in a green rural area. Inset images show a family, a young woman, and an older couple--family portraits.

An interior spread from How to Say Goodbye in Cuban showing, three panels on the left spread showing a small boat as the sun sinks into night. On the right, a family navigates a swamp in the small boat.

Explore How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

Listen to Daniel Miyares talking with TeachingBooks about creating How to Say Goodbye in Cuban. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.

Invitation to Imagine

TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activities contributed by Daniel Miyares.

Imagination Activity with Daniel Miyares

Did you know that with just four quick drawings you can tell a whole story? Words are nice too, but for this project, let’s just focus on the drawings. I’ve discovered that I love sharing ideas through comics. Using panels gives me an endless number of ways to say things. There is a lot to learn though to make great comics. I know because I’m still trying to figure it out myself. To start with, let’s focus on this simple idea: one thing must lead to something else.

A+B+C=D

To test it out, I’d like you to try and make your very own mini comic using four “story beats” or moments. Below are some prompts and examples to get you started. Check them out and use the directions to try your own!

Daniel Miyares has listed "mini comic prompts" in two columns: "activities to start" and "feelings." The "Activities to Start" include things like "eating an apple, riding a bike, looking at the starts," while the "feelings" include, "hungry, confused, rushed, tired, angry surprised, and nervous."

A grid of four squares showing the movement of the eye with arrows from the top left "A," to the top right "B," down to the bottom left "C," and finally to the bottom right for "D."

Include one moment in each panel and make sure that each panel leads to the next one.

This is my example using the “eating an apple” activity and the “hungry” feeling.

Four comics panels showing: a worm moving a long a tree; the worm opening it's mouth in front of an apple; only the words "chomp"; and a picture of the work with an apple-sized bulge in its middle.

Now it’s your turn to make your mini comic! Choose one activity and one feeling from the prompt lists. Use them as the basis for your four moment story. Just remember that one thing has to lead to the next. And don’t forget to add in something unexpected. Enjoy!

A grid of four empty squares for readers to draw in their own sequential story.

Finish This Sentence . . . with Daniel Miyares

As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy the response from Daniel Miyares.

“My protagonist can’t live without…”

My protagonist can’t live without a bottle of malta, his slingshot, and a shark tooth necklace.

“While working on this latest project, I was surprised to learn that…”

While working on this latest project, I was surprised to learn that my grandfather won the lottery in Cuba during the 1950s!

“A favorite comment from a young reader is…”

A favorite question from a young reader was: “Do you think your dad would be proud of your book?” I said, “I hope so.”

“I hope my book encourages readers to think about…”

I hope that my book may encourage readers to think about their family’s stories and believe that there is value in understanding where we come from.

“Where I work is…”

Daniel Miyares' studio, with a drafting table filled with paints and supplies, and a wall where finished artworks are pinned up on display.

Thank you!

To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Daniel Miyares for signing a book for all of us.

The title page of How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, signed by the author, Daniel Miyares, with the message, "You and your stories matter. Don't be afraid to share them. Best wishes!"

More Connections to Daniel Miyares and How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

Explore all of the titles featured in the TeachingBooks Virtual Book Tour: one link with author interviews, lesson plans, activities, and more!

All text and images are courtesy of Daniel Miyares and Penguin Random House and may not be used without expressed written consent.