SMALL ISLANDS, BIG DREAMS
The Year the World Learned Cabo Verde
A story of football, identity, and diaspora.
About the Book
When Cabo Verde qualified for its first-ever FIFA World Cup, it wasn’t just a sports story — it was a homecoming. Small Islands, Big Dreams follows the archipelago’s historic 2026 tournament run alongside a deeply personal thread: the story of one Cape Verdean-American family, spanning generations of immigration, resilience, and the enduring pull of the islands they left behind.
Part sports chronicle, part family memoir, this book traces how a nation of half a million people — and a diaspora scattered across New England and beyond — found itself, together, on the world’s biggest stage.
Available Formats
Ebook
Perfect for reading on the go. Available on Kindle, Apple Books, and more.
Paperback
A beautiful high-quality edition for your personal library.
Hardcover
A premium collector’s edition with high-end finishes.
About Kathleen Monteiro
Kathleen Monteiro is a Cape Verdean-American writer and the founder of Morabeza Books. Raised in a Connecticut community shaped by generations of Cape Verdean immigration, she brings both a lifelong personal connection and years of research to Small Islands, Big Dreams — her debut book chronicling Cabo Verde’s 2026 World Cup run and her own family’s journey across the Atlantic.
What Readers Are Saying
“A powerful tribute to our heritage and the beautiful game. Kathleen captures the heart of Cabo Verde perfectly.”
— Early Reviewer
“More than just a sports book. It’s a story of belonging and identity that resonates with the entire diaspora.”
— Community Member
Morabeza Books LLC
A certified Minority- and Woman-Owned small press dedicated to telling Cape Verdean and diaspora stories.
