Manuel Cambó read aloud from his new children's book to about 40 neighbors at the Key Biscayne Community Center on Sunday, August 2, with all net proceeds from sales going to a tuition-free school for students with autism.
Cambó, a longtime island resident, wrote "Una carta sobre Michael" ("A Letter About Michael") as a tribute to his nephew, who was born with autism. The bilingual book, illustrated by Sergio Kechu Slepczuk, follows characters Michael and Anelo riding home from school with their grandmother on a rainy day, both anxious about a teacher's letter sent to their parents. Michael, a sixth-grader, fears what he did wrong. The story builds to a Friday dinner-table scene that explores how autism shapes an entire family, celebrating courage, friendship, and understanding.
The event was part of the Community Center's "Lunch with an Author" series. Cambó spoke about how autism affects siblings and parents, not just the person diagnosed.
"Manny did a great job explaining how autism affects families, especially the siblings," Rose Haney said at the event.
All net proceeds from sales will be donated to the South Florida Autism Charter School in Hialeah, according to the Islander News. SFACS is the first charter school in South Florida exclusively serving students with autism spectrum disorders, providing tuition-free education and therapeutic services to families in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The school operates campuses in Hialeah and South Dade and offers more than 15 student clubs and five athletic teams.
The book is available on Amazon, Walmart, and other online retailers in both Spanish and English editions. Residents interested in the "Lunch with an Author" series or other Community Center programming can call (305) 365-8900.
Upcoming community events
- Friday, August 7: Cape Florida Lighthouse marks its 200th anniversary with a free celebration at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
- Monday, August 3: Miami Marathon 25th anniversary registration opens; the race route passes through Coconut Grove.
