I am so excited to be taking part in Blue Slip Media’s book tour for The Caiman by María Eugenia Manrique today! This stunning picture book was originally published in Venezuela and releases in the US tomorrow.
Title: The Caiman Author: María Eugenia Manrique Illustrator: Ramón París Translated By: Amy Brill Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids Published: July 1, 2021 Format: Picture Book
The Caiman tells the story of a man named Jose Faoro who rescues a baby caiman that has been orphaned by hunters in San Fernando de Apure. Faoro is a clockmaker by trade, but he loves his newfound caiman and cares for her as though she was his child. He names her Night and builds a pond for her in his backyard, allowing the neighborhood children to visit her whenever they pleased. In fact, the author is one of those children.
The illustrations by Ramón París are absolutely wonderful. I really appreciated the clean design and the bold colors throughout the pages. I also loved the way we see Night grow from a tiny little baby caiman that fits in the palm of Faoro’s hand, all the way to a ten-foot adult who takes up the whole spread.
The Caiman officially releases tomorrow, but you can preorder your copy today wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)
I am also hosting a giveaway over on Instagram, so don’t miss your chance to win a free copy, courtesy of Amazon Crossing Kids. Thank you to both Amazon Crossing Kids and Blue Slip Media for allowing me to review this wonderful book and making a giveaway possible!
Don’t miss the rest of the tour!
The Caiman will also be featured on the following blogs and Instagram pages. Be sure to show my fellow tour participants some love too!
- momma_doc_reads
- My Literacy Space
- Mom Read It
- The Tiny Activists
- Unleashing Readers
- Christy’s Cozy Corners
- Beagles and Books
- kidslitislit
- The Literacy Party
- books grow minds
- Because My Mother Read
- Dad Suggests
- The Baby Bookworm
- ihaveabook4that
About The Author:
María Eugenia Manrique is one of the girls portrayed in this story. She rode the caiman when she visited her family in San Fernando de Apure. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. She studied fine art in Mexico City, specializing in xylography and engraving; Eastern painting at Nankín University, China; and sumi-e and calligraphy at the Nihon Shuji Kyoiku Zaidan Foundation in Japan. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world. The Caiman is her first children’s book. For more information, visit her website: https://mariaeugeniamanrique.wordpress.com/.
Instagram: @mem.manrique
About The Illustrator:
Ramón París was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and as a child lived in Barinas, a plains state like Apure, where he also heard the story of the caiman. He currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. His most recent book for children, Duermevela, was selected for the Bologna Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition. His books have been recognized with honors including Los Mejores del Banco del Libro and the IBBY Honor List, among others, and they have been translated into numerous languages. Visit him at: ramon.paris.
Instagram: @ramon_paris_ilustrador
About The Translator:
Amy Brill’s fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous publications, including the Washington Post, Medium, Real Simple, Oprah.com, and One Story. Her first novel, The Movement of Stars, was published by Riverhead Books. A native New Yorker, Amy lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
mutuallyinclusivebooks.com 