5.0
María Mariposa
ByPublisher Description
From Pura Belpré Award–winning author Karla Arenas Valenti and New York Times–bestselling illustrator Ana Ramírez González comes a lyrical children's book about finding confidence, embracing identity, and recognizing that your unique self is more than enough.
A gift from Mexico alights on María Mariposa’s windowsill on her first day of school in a brand-new country: “¡Una mariposa!” / “A butterfly!” And with the butterfly, in comes magic. Filled from her toes to her new butterfly wings with memories of home, María knows exactly who she is. But when everything at school is different and strange, doubt begins to make María’s confidence fade away. The place she comes from, the community she loves, the magic inside her . . . does any of it really belong in her new life in the United States?
With courage and compassion, this picture book confronts the most difficult moments—and feelings—of being new, sweeping readers up in a powerful celebration of the magic we each contribute to the world.
TIMELY, REASSURING MESSAGE: This sweet story offers an inspiring, reassuring message, just right for kids facing the first day of school or a big move.
TEACHES SELF-LOVE AND EMPATHY: This book emphasizes the importance of courage, empathy, and friendship. Young readers will be encouraged to embrace new challenges with resilience and a strong sense of their own self-worth.
A STORY OF IMMIGRATION AND TRANSITION: This beautiful, lightly bilingual picture book speaks to the experiences of children who have moved or immigrated. A rich celebration of Mexican immigrant identity, it will resonate with any reader going through a time of transition and change.
A GREAT READ-ALOUD: The positive messages and gorgeous illustrations will spark imagination and inspire children to discover and express their own inner magic. It’s a perfect classroom or library read-aloud.
Perfect for:
A gift from Mexico alights on María Mariposa’s windowsill on her first day of school in a brand-new country: “¡Una mariposa!” / “A butterfly!” And with the butterfly, in comes magic. Filled from her toes to her new butterfly wings with memories of home, María knows exactly who she is. But when everything at school is different and strange, doubt begins to make María’s confidence fade away. The place she comes from, the community she loves, the magic inside her . . . does any of it really belong in her new life in the United States?
With courage and compassion, this picture book confronts the most difficult moments—and feelings—of being new, sweeping readers up in a powerful celebration of the magic we each contribute to the world.
TIMELY, REASSURING MESSAGE: This sweet story offers an inspiring, reassuring message, just right for kids facing the first day of school or a big move.
TEACHES SELF-LOVE AND EMPATHY: This book emphasizes the importance of courage, empathy, and friendship. Young readers will be encouraged to embrace new challenges with resilience and a strong sense of their own self-worth.
A STORY OF IMMIGRATION AND TRANSITION: This beautiful, lightly bilingual picture book speaks to the experiences of children who have moved or immigrated. A rich celebration of Mexican immigrant identity, it will resonate with any reader going through a time of transition and change.
A GREAT READ-ALOUD: The positive messages and gorgeous illustrations will spark imagination and inspire children to discover and express their own inner magic. It’s a perfect classroom or library read-aloud.
Perfect for:
- Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
- Educators and librarians looking for diverse and bicultural children's books
- Kids moving to new schools or houses
- Anyone seeking books that celebrate family heritage and individuality
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesMaría Mariposa Reviews
5.0
Stacie Gorkow
Created over 1 year agoShare
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“Maria is waking up in a new apartment in a new city and today she is starting a brand-new school. Maria is from Mexico and is very anxious about all the new things that are happening. Until she spots a special gift from Mexico fluttering by…a butterfly or “¡Una mariposa!”
The butterfly reminds Maria of all the things she loves about home and she carries the memories with her on her magical butterfly wings as she heads off to school. The wings give her so much joy that she spreads joy everywhere she goes until she starts to feel nervous again, makes some mistakes, and is teased. Then she starts to feel very lonely and her magical butterfly wings aren’t helping her anymore.
With a mixture of English and Spanish words and a bit of magical realism, Maria’s story will resonate with kids. If your child has ever felt left out, been nervous about going to school, or has ever been teased, they will wish they had butterfly wings like Maria. The illustrations are full of color and show the magic swirling around Maria as she spreads joy to others. They also show Maria’s sadness as the light begins to dim around her. Kids will realize that they had the magic inside them all along and soon they won’t need their magical wings.
The story of the butterfly’s migration mirrors Maria’s immigration to the United States. Kids will learn about the journey butterflies take to the US and Canada and back to Mexico. Maria’s story will also remind kids to have compassion and offer kindness and friendship to new kids in their neighborhood or classroom. When Maria makes a connection with someone on the playground, everything changes for Maria.
The author’s note at the end of the book offers a glimpse into the author’s own childhood of living in a bicultural home and not feeling a part of either culture. She also shares facts about immigration as well as information about the migration of butterflies and dragonflies. She includes resources for learning more about their migrations at the end of the book.”
About Karla Arenas Valenti
Karla Arenas Valenti was born and raised in Mexico City but has since put down roots in other places she now calls home: France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The author of several children’s books, Karla lives and writes in the Chicago area.
Other books by Karla Arenas Valenti
Ana Ramírez González
Ana Ramírez González is an artist and filmmaker at Pixar Animation Studios by day and a New York Times–bestselling illustrator by night. Born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico, Ana attended art school in France and now divides her time between San Francisco, Paris, and Guanajuato.
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