Miguel Must Fight! - by Jamie Ofelia (Hardcover)

About the Book

When El Dragâon attacks, artistic Miguel must save his family and prove his colored pencils are mightier than their swords.

Book Synopsis

★ "A thrilling mini-adventure" --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A positive message of creativity over warfare" --Shelf Awareness, starred review

In this charming Spanish language story, a young artist in a family of sword fighters will put his passions to the test when a dragon attacks the village.

Miguel was like a paintbrush in a family of steely swords ...

All his life, Miguel's familia told him he must fight! But his family's art of sword fighting never captivated him as much as the sway of his colored pencils did.

When his village is threatened by El Dragón, Miguel must make a choice: will he stand with his familia and fight, or can he prove that the pencil is mightier than the sword?

With vibrant illustrations from award-winning artist Sara Palacios, this charming story of family tradition and self-discovery will inspire young readers to always follow their passions.

Review Quotes

* "In Jamie Ofelia's well-honed, winning debut ... action-filled art, a positive message of creativity over warfare, and text that balances English and Spanish assure an entertaining reader experience both solo and as a read aloud." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

* "Ofelia's picture-book debut crackles with a playful text that wraps a self-affirming message in a thrilling mini-adventure ... A maravilloso reminder of being true to oneself." --Kirkus, starred review--Kirkus

"In her engaging acrylic artwork in a warm palette, Palacios adds abundant detail showcasing the community's Latine culture. Wrapped in an entertaining package that neatly incorporates Spanish language ... this story emphasizes that weaponry and fighting are not the only ways to defend oneself and that Miguel's determination to stay true to himself in the face of social pressures is a special kind of strength."--Booklist

About the Author

Jamie Ofelia is a biracial Latina woman who writes fiction and nonfiction stories for Latine kids so they can see themselves reflected as heroes in mainstream children's literature. She holds her master's degree in marriage and family therapy and is currently a stay-at-home mom living in Dallas, where she spends her days reading diverse picture books with her son. Miguel Must Fight! is her picture book debut. She invites you to visit her at JamieOfelia.com or follow her on Twitter @JamieOfelia.

Sara Palacios is the Pura Belpré Award-winning artist of Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown, and the illustrator of many books for children including Américas Award winner Between Us and Abuela by Mitali Perkins, Lola Out Loud by Jennifer Torres, and A Way with Wild Things by Larissa Theule. Sara graduated with a degree in graphic design and went on to earn BFA and MFA degrees in illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. A native of Mexico, Sara now lives in San Francisco.