Río de mariposas

May 17, 2024

K-Gr 3-A little girl wishes she could see a river of yellow butterflies, like how it used to be long ago, while she daydreams in her godmother's yard. The river by her house, Papalupa, was named after the beautiful creatures. She and her parents cut and create hundreds of paper butterflies to decorate for her birthday party, and her imagination comes to life. But her dream becomes a nightmare when a large storm washes away all of her paper butterflies. As her family comforts her, a miracle happens! There is a river of butterflies whose migratory path was diverted to her town. Her wish became a reality. This lyrically told narrative will remind readers to not only appreciate the beauty of nature but to also hold fast to their dreams. The nostalgia-tinged text is accompanied by colorful illustrations done in springtime colors with lots of yellows, greens, blues, and violets. The butterflies appear to jump off the page, and fanciful sequences are featured throughout. Back matter includes an author's note detailing that the work is based on Ortega's personal experience. A small, illustrated glossary is also featured. VERDICT A wonderful Spanish-language story that will leave young readers in awe, whether as a read aloud or an independent read. Magical.-Melanie Ortega

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