Margarita Engle Books

Destiny's journey from a sickly sloth to a thriving member of her community highlights resilience and friendship. Rescued by the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, she overcame her challenges, including the loss of vision in one eye, to bond with other sloths. After her recovery, she was fitted with a tracking collar and released back into the wild. This uplifting tale encourages children to embrace determination and kindness towards those who may appear different, fostering empathy and understanding.

Showcasing the colorful buildings and iconic classic cars of Havana, this verse picture book follows a Cuban boy and his family on their road trip into the city.

Louis loves to watch birds. He takes care of injured birds and studies how they look and how they move. His father wants him to become an engineer, but Louis dreams of being a bird artist. To achieve this dream, he must practice, practice, practice. He learns from the art of John James Audubon. But as Louis grows up, he begins to draw and paint living, flying birds in their natural habitats. Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927) is now known as the father of modern bird art. He traveled with many scientific expeditions all over the world. His best-known works--paintings for habitat exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History in New York--are still beloved by visitors today. His art helped to encourage wildlife conservation, inspiring people to celebrate and protect the world of wings. Poems by Newbery Honor-winning author Margarita Engle and illustrations by Aliona Bereghici capture the life of Louis Fuertes and the deep sense of wonder that he felt when he painted the sky.

Challenging societal norms, the drum dream girl defies the long-held belief that girls cannot be drummers on her music-filled island. With her passion and talent for rhythm, she inspires others and breaks barriers, showcasing the power of dreams and perseverance. This enchanting tale celebrates individuality and the importance of following one's passion, regardless of gender expectations.

Set against the backdrop of the 1914 Panama Canal opening, the narrative explores the monumental engineering feat that transformed global trade and marked America's rise as a superpower. It highlights the immense sacrifices made, as thousands lost their lives and many endured grueling labor in perilous conditions for meager wages. The story captures the struggle and determination involved in creating a modern marvel, emphasizing the human cost behind this historic achievement.

From Pura Belpré Award–winning author Margarita Engle comes a lively, rhythmic picture book about a little girl visiting her grandfather who is a pregonero —a singing street vendor in Cuba—and helping him sell his frutas .When we visit mi abuelo , I help him sellfrutas , singing the names of each fruitas we walk, our footsteps like drumbeats,our hands like maracas, shaking…The little girl loves visiting her grandfather in Cuba and singing his special songs to sell all kinds of mango , limón , naranja , piña , and more! Even when they’re apart, grandfather and granddaughter can share rhymes between their countries like un abrazo —a hug—made of words carried on letters that soar across the distance like songbirds.

In this poetic memoir, Margarita Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor, tells of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War. Margarita is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother's tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. Words and images are her constant companions, friendly and comforting when the children at school are not. Then a revolution breaks out in Cuba. Margarita fears for her far-away family. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Margarita's worlds collide in the worst way possible. How can the two countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?

Focusing on the contributions of eight influential Cuban women, this poetry collection celebrates their impact on various art forms, including folk art, photography, architecture, painting, sculpture, and music. It sheds light on their often-overlooked legacies and the ways they have transformed artistic expression within their communities, emphasizing the importance of recognizing female voices in the cultural landscape of Cuba.

Adapted from the Texas Bluebonnet Award-winning Bravo! Poems About Amazing Hispanics, this board book of poems and portraits from writer Margarita Engle and illustrator Rafael López celebrates the lives and accomplishments of amazing Hispanics

A novel in verse about the friendship between a young girl and the poet Gabriela Mistral that leads to healing and hope for both of them.Cuban-born eleven-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she struggles to belong. But most of the time that's okay, because she enjoys helping her parents care for the many injured animals at their veterinary clinic.Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage to stay true to herself and do what she thinks is right--attempting to rescue a baby elephant in need--even if it means keeping secrets from those she loves.