The Caiman
Published on 1. July 2021
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-5420-3158-5 (ISBN)
Description
The unforgettable story of a man and his alligator.
When Faoro the clockmaker adopts a baby alligator, he has no idea that someday their story will travel far and wide. But the town of San Fernando de Apure would never forget this kind young man and his adoring alligator, who played with the neighborhood children, took part in Faoro's wedding, and, eventually, mourned his loss. Now their story is being shared with the world.
In this delightful picture book first published in Venezuela, the author brings us back to her own childhood in Venezuela, as one of the children who used to visit this famous caiman, to tell the story of a man who loved animals and how his friendship with his alligator sparked a lasting legacy.
When Faoro the clockmaker adopts a baby alligator, he has no idea that someday their story will travel far and wide. But the town of San Fernando de Apure would never forget this kind young man and his adoring alligator, who played with the neighborhood children, took part in Faoro's wedding, and, eventually, mourned his loss. Now their story is being shared with the world.
In this delightful picture book first published in Venezuela, the author brings us back to her own childhood in Venezuela, as one of the children who used to visit this famous caiman, to tell the story of a man who loved animals and how his friendship with his alligator sparked a lasting legacy.
Reviews / Votes
A New York Times Globetrotting Pick!"The striking illustrations...have a wild and whimsical feel about them, featuring lush foliage and expressive characters, including the eventually enormous caiman. It's a memorable and unexpected demonstration of the universality of love, grief, and kindness." -Booklist (starred review)
"A poignant visual narrative does double duty to carry this translated tale honoring a lasting bond." -Kirkus Reviews
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Amazon Publishing
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Kindergarten to Third Grade
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 180 mm
Width: 310 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
422 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5420-3158-5 (9781542031585)
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
About the Author
Maria 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 Nankin 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 in Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Puerto Rico, China, Italy, Argentina, and Japan. In 2014 she won the Grand Prize in Eastern Painting at the International Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exposition at the Anshan Museum in China. She has published four books on Eastern painting. The Caiman is her first children's book.
Ramon Paris 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 first book for children, Un abuelo, si, was followed by Un perro en casa, Estaba la rana, and most recently Duermevela, which was selected for the Bologna Book Fair Illustrator's exhibition. His books have been recognized with honors including Los Mejores del Banco del Libro; the IBBY Honour List; Fundacion Cuatrogatos; and White Ravens, and have been translated into Chinese, Portuguese, French, Catalan, Korean, German, and now English. He works to create a unique atmosphere for every story he illustrates, because each one speaks to him in a different voice.
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 in 2013. A native New Yorker, Amy grew up in Corona, Queens, and currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
Maria 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 Nankin 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 in Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Puerto Rico, China, Italy, Argentina, and Japan. In 2014 she won the Grand Prize in Eastern Painting at the International Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exposition at the Anshan Museum in China. She has published four books on Eastern painting. The Caiman is her first children's book.
Ramon Paris 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 first book for children, Un abuelo, si, was followed by Un perro en casa, Estaba la rana, and most recently Duermevela, which was selected for the Bologna Book Fair Illustrator's exhibition. His books have been recognized with honors including Los Mejores del Banco del Libro; the IBBY Honour List; Fundacion Cuatrogatos; and White Ravens, and have been translated into Chinese, Portuguese, French, Catalan, Korean, German, and now English. He works to create a unique atmosphere for every story he illustrates, because each one speaks to him in a different voice.
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 in 2013. A native New Yorker, Amy grew up in Corona, Queens, and currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.