
The Golden Man
The Indigenous Story Behind the Legend of El Dorado
Maria Fernanda Paz-Castillo(Author)
Crocodile Books USA (Publisher)
Published on 23. September 2025
Book
Hardback
36 pages
978-1-62371-609-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Indigenous story that inspired the legend of El Dorado
Before El Dorado became a tale of European conquest and lost treasure, it was an Indigenous story—rooted in ritual, reverence, and gold.
The Golden Man introduces young readers to the true origin of this legendary myth. Set in the lush highlands of what is now Colombia, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of the Muisca people and their sacred ceremony at Lake Guatavita. There, a young leader, dusted in gold from head to toe, dives into the waters as an offering to the gods and a symbol of his new role as ruler.
Through rich storytelling and detailed, historically grounded artwork, this book honors the Muisca civilization—the master goldsmiths whose spiritual traditions gave rise to one of the most enduring legends of the Americas.
Written by Colombian author María Fernanda Paz-Castillo, whose acclaimed books have reached readers across the Spanish-speaking world, and illustrated by award-winning Venezuelan artist Ramón París.
Before El Dorado became a tale of European conquest and lost treasure, it was an Indigenous story—rooted in ritual, reverence, and gold.
The Golden Man introduces young readers to the true origin of this legendary myth. Set in the lush highlands of what is now Colombia, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of the Muisca people and their sacred ceremony at Lake Guatavita. There, a young leader, dusted in gold from head to toe, dives into the waters as an offering to the gods and a symbol of his new role as ruler.
Through rich storytelling and detailed, historically grounded artwork, this book honors the Muisca civilization—the master goldsmiths whose spiritual traditions gave rise to one of the most enduring legends of the Americas.
Written by Colombian author María Fernanda Paz-Castillo, whose acclaimed books have reached readers across the Spanish-speaking world, and illustrated by award-winning Venezuelan artist Ramón París.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Interlink Publishing Group, Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
Reading Age: From 5 to 8 years
Illustrations
36 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 286 mm
Width: 218 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
420 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-62371-609-7 (9781623716097)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Maria Fernanda Paz-Castillo has published several anthologies for children written in Spanish, such as: De pieles, plumas escamas, and Muertos de susto. Due to her extensive experience, she has been selected as a judge for the Ibero-American Illustration Catalogue (2025) and for the International Illustration Prize Bologna Book Fair-FSM (2018).