Mil Mariposas Blancas - by Jessica Betancourt-Perez & Karen Lynn Williams

Book Synopsis

¡Ahora en tapa blanda! Como si ser nueva en los Estados Unidos no fuera ya difícil, ¡el primer día de escuela de Isabella fue cancelado por la nieve!

Un libro ilustrado con el cual niños de 5 a 8 años se sentirán identificados con temas sobre mudarse, ser el niño nuevo y hacer nuevos amigos--en especial inmigrantes recientes.

Now in paperback! As if being new to the United States wasn't hard enough, Isabella's first day of school is canceled due to snow!

A relatable picture book for kids ages 5-8-years-old with themes of moving, being the new kid, and making new friends--but especially for recent immigrants.

Isabella acaba de llegar de Colombia con su mamá y su abuela. Ella extraña a Papá, quien está todavía en América del Sur.

Es su primer día de escuela, su día de hacer nuevos amigos, pero cuando las clases son canceladas porque hay mucha nieve, Isabella extraña más que nunca la cálida y verde Colombia. Luego Isabella conoce a Katie y descubre que hacer amigos en el frío, ¡es más fácil de lo que pensaba!

Una historia dulce que desmitifica el primer día de escuela y el proceso de hacer nuevos amigos.

Isabella has recently arrived from Colombia with her mother and abuela. She misses Papa, who is still in South America.

It's her first day of school, her make-new-friends day, but when classes are canceled because of too much snow, Isabella misses warm, green, Colombia more than ever. Then Isabella meets Katie and finds out that making friends in the cold is easier than she thought!

A sweet story to demystify the first day of school and making new friends.

Review Quotes

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

About the Author

Jessica Betancourt-Perez creció en Palmira, Colombia y en los Estados Unidos (emigró a los quince años). Ella tiene una maestría en psicología escolar y actualmente trabaja como psicóloga escolar en un gran distrito suburbano en York, Pennsylvania.

Karen Lynn Williams tiene una maestría en educación para sordos. Ha vivido en África y Haití. Karen ha soñado desde pequeña ser una de las autoras publicadas más jóvenes, comenzando su club de escritura a los 10 años. Es autora de catorce libros infantiles.

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 es una ilustradora, artista y diseñadora radicada en Hong Kong. Su obra es colorida y alegre, inspirada en su amor por la naturaleza, su herencia latinoamericana y sus experiencias vividas en Europa y Asia.

Gina Maldonado is an illustrator, artist and designer based in Hong Kong. Her work is colourful and joyful, inspired by her love of nature, Latin American heritage and experiences of living in Europe and Asia.