River of Mariposas

by Mirelle Ortega

Overview

From Mirelle Ortega, the author-illustrator of Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land comes River of Mariposas, a vibrant, colorful picture book story of imagination and the determination of a child to bring back the butterflies—even if she has to make them herself.
 
Can you imagine a time when the land and the sky belonged to the mariposas? I can . . .
 
A young girl dreams of the land’s historic mariposas amarillas and is determined to re-create their glory, even if her butterflies are made of paper. But when nature thwarts her plans, life, magic, and yes, even the rain, bring something more beautiful than she ever could have crafted.
 
Based on the author’s own memories of a hurricane that diverted the migration of thousands of butterflies through her hometown near Veracruz, Mexico, this beautiful story captures the essence of imagination and the beauty of the unexpected.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647009892
Publisher:	Abrams
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	52 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mirelle Ortega is a storyteller and illustrator inspired by magical realism, classic film, animation, and Latin American cultures. She was born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, near her family’s pineapple farm. She now lives in Los Angeles. Magic is her author-illustrator debut.

Editorial Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"This is a heartfelt ode to Mexico and the power of children’s imaginations to impart beauty and wonder onto the world."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2023

PreS-Gr 2—While gazing at the Papaloapan, a river in Mexico, a child dreams of what the world looked like long before she was born. She is inspired by the river's name—which roughly translates from Nahuatl to "butterfly river"—to make her own "river of mariposas" at home. Buoyed by the smell of Mamá's cooking and the melody of her favorite song, she handcrafts dozens of delicate paper butterflies to decorate her backyard, with hopes of hosting a party for her neighbors to admire her creation. Mexican cultural touchstones alongside the soft, colorful illustrations give readers a sense of a time and place steeped in history yet still accessible to them and reflective of who they are today. Pura Belpré honoree Ortega's follow-up to her debut, Magic, with another semi-autobiographical snapshot of her native Veracruz, pulls from events post—Hurricane Franklin, where butterflies filled the skies because their usual migratory path had been disturbed. She uses the story's climax to show her audience that there is hope and possibility, even after the most damaging storms. VERDICT This is a heartfelt ode to Mexico and the power of children's imaginations to impart beauty and wonder onto the world.—Alexandra Quay

School Library Journal