The Capybaras - (Aldana Libros) by Alfredo Soderguit (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A charming and hilarious tale for kids ages 4-8 about how accepting others can enrich us all--featuring capybaras, the beloved animal sensation capturing hearts around the world."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A capybara and a chicken become unlikely friends in this heartwarming children's picture book about diversity, kindness, and inclusion. A surprise twist ending will leave kids feeling cozy and snuggly!

A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year "Featuring a cast of adorable animals, this is a simple but multilayered tale of overcoming prejudice, learning to question the status quo, and creating community."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review

In this storybook for elementary school-aged kids (ages 4-8), a lovely chicken coop full of contented hens and their chicks is disrupted by the arrival of ... the capybaras!

The hens think the capybaras are too big, wet, and hairy! But it's hunting season, and the capybaras need somewhere safe to hide. So they are allowed to stay if they follow the rules: don't come out of the water, don't go near the food, and stay away from the hens and chicks.

One day, a brave little chick approaches a baby capybara. "Chirp chirp!" Together, they travel over the water, the chick riding on the capybara's back. Sadly, their friendship is cut short by an angry mama hen. But when a barking dog gets into the coop, the valiant capybaras rescue the chickens, and everything changes...

This funny and feel-good book has a surprise twist ending that kids will love. The Capybaras shares the importance of being yourself and making friends. By sticking together, we can overcome prejudice and live happily ever after.

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

Review Quotes

A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2020

"[A] gem... Soderguit's beguiling picture book offers a direct-enough message: find community in embracing others--even those that seem unfamiliar at first.... Purely exquisite."
--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

"A call to love and welcome each other, no matter our differences."
--Booklist

"Soderguit's work makes adept use of illustration and design elements to convey meaning, truly honoring the picture book form. Featuring a cast of adorable, expressive animals, this is a simple but multilayered tale of overcoming prejudice, learning to question the status quo, and creating community."
--Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"A charming tale about forging an unlikely friendship, forming a community, and embracing difference."
--New York Public Library

"The understated narration pairs brilliantly with the simple but expressive illustrations. Soderguit draws in shades of black on cream paper with accents of red to tell a gentle but subversive story of a community of animals coming together to survive."
--Horn Book

"A beautiful, articulate, delicately illustrated tale of survival, acceptance and comradery. Alfredo Soderguit manages to simultaneously educate and entertain the reader in this special edition translated from the original Spanish. A powerful story that's more relevant than ever"
--Barnes & Noble

"A heartwarming story of acceptance and friendship. The simple line drawings lend a sense of innocence to the story, and young readers will learn that caring for others is just as important as caring for themselves. Recommended."
--School Library Connection

"The spare text of this title by Uruguyuan author/filmmaker Soderguit provides a quiet parable on the immigrant or refugee experience, avoiding overwrought browbeating, and the delicate art."
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review

"Young children will be delighted by the final double spread of this beautifully designed picture book with black-and-white drawings with touches of red and a gentle message about accepting others and community building."
--International Literacy Association's Children's Literature Reading and Special Interest Group

About the Author

ALFREDO SODERGUIT is an award-winning author and illustrator with more than forty books published throughout Latin America, Spain, France, and Italy. He also makes animated films with Palermo Estudio, a collective, which he founded with other illustrators and animators. His prize-winning animated film, Anina, is available on HBO and YouTube in English and Spanish.