Waiting for the Biblioburro

Waiting for the Biblioburro (2011)
Author: Monica Brown, Illustrator: John Parra
Publisher: Penguin/Random House, Age: 5 to 8

Ana loves stories. She often makes them up to help her little brother fall asleep. But in her small village there are only a few books and she has read them all. One morning, Ana wakes up to the clip-clop of hooves, and there before her, is the most wonderful sight: a traveling library resting on the backs of two burros-all the books a little girl could dream of, with enough stories to encourage her to create one of her own.
Inspired by the heroic efforts of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, award-winning picture book creators Monica Brown and John Parra introduce readers to the mobile library that journeys over mountains and through valleys to bring literacy and culture to rural Colombia, and to the children who wait for the BiblioBurro.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:
"The pleasure and love of reading are joyfully brought forth in this simple, happily rendered tale."—School Library Journal

"Parra’s colorful folk-style illustrations of acrylics on board bring Ana’s real and imaginary worlds to life...The book is perfect for read-alouds, with occasional, often onomatopoeic Spanish words such as “quiquiriquí,” “tacatac” and “iii-aah” adding to the fun."—Kirkus, Starred Review

"Parra's naïve-styled acrylics brim with scenes of country life. A palette of salmon pinks and turquoise and sky blues, painted on board, give the book a rough-hewn, handmade quality and an innocent, childlike appeal (with her wide face, delicate features, and rouged cheeks, Ana even resembles a porcelain doll). In a metafictional ending, readers will notice that the book Ana hands the bibliotecario upon his return is this very book--fitting, as this truly is Ana's story."—Publishers Weekly

“This sample of the impact of traveling librarians on rural children, inspired by a Colombian teacher-librarian, not only celebrates their work but eloquently portrays a matchless way to inspire learning: by feeding the natural hunger for story....Small, brown-faced Ana’s enthusiasm is contagious, and the satisfying denouement, in which she donates her homemade book to the traveling collection, is just right."—The Horn Book

AWARDS:
The Christopher Award
Latino Literacy Now, Best Children's Picture Book, Honorable Mention
"Starred Review" Kirkus Review
PBS SoCal Favorite Kids Books 2022

ORDER: Amazon, Bookshop, B&N, Indiebound
Amazon (English/Spanish Text)

MEDIA: Teacher's Guide, Common Core, PBS, Telesur, Book Trailer, Apple Books, Goodreads