Marisol's Vacation is an autobiographical book for children based on the author's experiences on a tropical beach in Cuba. This book received two national awards in literary contests in Cuba in 1997. The protagonist, Marisol, is a naughty girl enjoying her vacation at the beach while showing us the animals and the marine landscape through a combination of successful and original stories and poems. It was publish by Palibrio in English and Spanish in 2011.

The First day of Vacation Precisely when the sun began to extend its rays over the beach,Marisol and her parents arrived to spend fifteen days of vacation. Sun and Sea With his imposing orange colored, ruffed bonfire, in the middle of the blue ribbon, the sun raises his hat, the shade. His rosy glow spreads down the path like riders on horseback and outlines seashells with magical colors like a handful of flowers thrown on a parasol. " Mommy, mommy! look for my bathing suit. I want to go swimming!" " But Marisol, wait for us to put things in order. Be patient. Remember that the house needs a good cleaning." " Okay! If you say so", she said, making a gesture of disgust. Right after that, she began to help her parents with the chores. When all was ready, she joyfully strolled along the reef collecting shells, sea urchin skeletons, and cast-off crab shells. Minutes later: Finally, the mistress of the waters! Blue Sea His blue unfolds over the singing water, entangled in the seashore breeze dressed in a tulle. I dive into this blueness without fear weary from the trembling of this cloak that seizes me and takes me by surprise with his salty charms. " Oaf! This water is cold,"she exclaimed, splashing to her parents as they go to swim. For her, there was no feeling comparable to balancing on the waves like a fragile, small boat. Suddenly, she saw something very brilliant rocking on the surface. " Mommy! Daddy! Look, look! What is that floating there?" " Be careful! Don't touch that! It's a jellyfish," her mother advise. " And what is a jellyfish?" " It is a jelly-like animal that stings when you touch it." They left the place, and then she enjoyed a swim, demonstrating that the styles of swimming she learned the summer before hadn't been forgotten. She returned to the beach house, as if walking on the air, where a tasty lunch prepared by Dad and Mom waited. At nap time, she lay down on the couch on the porch. We don't know what banquet she liked more, the one she had just eaten or this one, filled with fresh air and distinct tones of blue with a background of coconut palm trees bathed in a tropical climate.

María Josefa Reyes was born in Holguín, Cuba in 1954. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, United States where she obtained her Master's of Art and Rank 1 in Education at the University of Louisville. She teaches Spanish for Jefferson county Public Schools. She is a member of the Louisville Writing Project and Women Who Write. Her works have been published in anthologies and newspapers in Cuba, Spain and United States. She published two books of poetry in Spanish: Andar la ternura and Vuelo de guitarras by Palibrio.