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Title details for María Mariposa by Karla Arenas Valenti - Available

María Mariposa

by Karla Arenas Valenti
Ana Ramírez González
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
From acclaimed 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:
  • 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

    • Creators

    • Publisher

    • Release date

      July 16, 2024

    • Formats

      • Kindle Book

      • OverDrive Read

        • ISBN: 9781797213408

      • EPUB ebook

        • ISBN: 9781797213408
        • File size: 56954 KB

    • Languages

      • English

    • Reviews

      • Kirkus

        May 15, 2024
        A child's first day of school is transformed by a gift from her homeland. Maria Mariposa, a young Mexican immigrant, is thrilled when she looks out the window and sees a butterfly: "�Una mariposa!" She's instantly filled with reminders of home: "the black and gold mariachis strumming silver strings, the purple of flower-heavy jacaranda trees holding nests of singing birds." She's determined to share her gift with family and neighbors, and she performs acts of kindness for them, sparkling trails of flowers and glitter following in her wake. As Maria boards the city bus, she shares her magic with the driver. Everyone deserves a little magic! But her magic--and confidence--falters when she arrives at school. She has trouble with English, and her classmates laugh at her. Maria encounters a few more bumps along the way, and at lunch, she finds herself alone, the magic all gone. Her loneliness seems huge, but Maria is bigger! She fights her feelings of sadness until magic blooms from within, so big and colorful that she makes a new friend--and new memories. Maria's a delightful protagonist who faces challenges that many readers, especially young immigrants, will relate to. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout Valenti's text, which relies on rich, tangible imagery, while the captivating art has a childlike appeal, using color to set the mood on each page. Warm and compelling, sure to have hearts soaring. (author's note, resources on butterfly and dragonfly migration) (Picture book. 3-6)

        COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

      • School Library Journal

        July 26, 2024

        PreS-Gr 3-In an ideal world, home is safety, beauty, and love. The world is not always ideal, home cannot always hold those truths, and home cannot always stay in one place. In this picture book, Mar�a is far away from her home in Mexico. It starts with her on a "brand-new morning, in a brand-new city, on the very first day of a brand-new school." But a monarch butterfly from Mexico visits, bringing a winding trail of memories in bloom, lusciously described in the text and similarly echoed in decadent illustrations. This kernel of home helps Mar�a be brave. She spreads that light to her family and neighbors, imbuing the flowering hope of the mariposa. Even when her school is scary, moments swirled in dark tornadoes of fear, Mar�a channels her inner strength to stretch her wings and radiate joy. Valenti's writing sprinkles in Spanish at perfect moments, cementing Mar�a's sense of self. Come for the simple but important story of strength in cultural roots, stay for the gentle magic in the pictures, bursting with color and framing the ordinary world as something brighter, better. VERDICT Immigration and individualism in one gorgeous package, add this to back-to-school displays and picture book shelves.-Cat McCarrey

        Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    Formats

    • Kindle Book
    • OverDrive Read
    • EPUB ebook

    subjects

    Languages

    • English

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