Mil mariposas blancas

In a snowy wintertime, a girl is looking through the window of her new home in the United States, missing her dad and friends who were left behind in Colombia and its warm weather. Despite her sadness, Isabella is eager to meet new friends, so when a neighborhood girl invites her to build a snowman, Isabella is inspired to draw from her experience. The snow, resembling white butterflies, does not feel so bad anymore. This Spanish translation of A Thousand White Butterflies is interspersed with vocabulary for children who are comfortable with this language and region-based terms, such as ruana and sombrero vueltiao, a traditional Colombia hat. The text also contains some English phrases translated in the glossary. This story concerns an immigrant child prevailing against her sadness and making things work in a new country. The book could be used in an early elementary unit about feelings and coping mechanisms. The digital illustrations were created using textures made with crayons and acrylic paint, relying on a soft palette for the background scenery and emphasizing the fuchsia jacket of the main character. This art creates a beautifully warm setting when the main character is at home and a smooth wintery feeling when she is with her newly found friend. Isabella has light brown skin. VERDICT A picture book about emotions highlighting the ­effects of immigration-based family separation and the healing power of friendship. A strong choice for Spanish-language picture bookshelves.—School Library Journal

Jessica Betancourt-Perez grew up in Palmira, Colombia, and the United States (immigrating at fifteen). She holds a master’s degree in school psychology and currently works as a school psychologist in a large, suburban school district in York, Pennsylvania.

Karen Lynn Williams holds a master’s degree in deaf education. She has lived in Africa and in Haiti. Karen had an early dream to be one of the youngest published authors, starting a writing club at ten. She is the author of fourteen books for children.

Gina Maldonado is an illustrator, artist and designer based in Hong Kong. She studied architecture and interior design in Colombia, Mexico, and Italy and then discovered her real passion–illustration. Her work is colourful and joyful, inspired by her love of nature, Latin American heritage and experiences of living in Europe and Asia.

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