Review by Booklist Review
Miguel de Cervantes dreams of telling stories of heroes and adventures, but the law and the lack of resources in his small village in Spain prohibit it. Amid poverty and familial strife, Miguel finds refuge in his imagination. Engle's poems give insight into the young boy's desire for a better life. Young readers will relate to Miguel's constant daydreaming and to his wild imaginings of a hero who can right wrongs. Colón's pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations paint a vivid description of the historical time period and conditions in which Miguel might have grown up. Cervantes' iconic literary figure, Don Quixote, is a thread throughout all of the illustrations. Mlawer and Lázaro's Spanish translation of Miquel's Brave Knight (2017) rings true to Engle's poetic voice.--Sonia Alejandra Rodríguez Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With the assistance of Mlawer and Lzaro, National Young People's Poet Laureate Engle brings to children the childhood of the great storyteller Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra in his native tongue.Cervantes, recognized as one of the most important writers in the Spanish language, is also the creator of Don Quixote, one of the noblest literary knights of all time. In her trademark free-verse style, Engle tells the story of young Cervantes, the son of a barber-surgeon and gambler, and of the precariousness of the family's economic situation due to his father's debts. Weaving fact together with fiction, the author imagines that the seeds to the famous literary creation can be found in Miguel's difficult childhood. Originally published in English, the Spanish translation by Mlawer and Lzaro beautifully captures the rhythm and language of the original: "Huimos de noche, / hacia Madrid, / con la esperanza de un futuro / sin / temores. / Dnde encontraremos ese futuro imposible? / Quiz solo en las pginas de mi / imaginacin?" Coln's remarkable pen-and-ink-and-watercolor illustrations have an old-masters quality that perfectly complements the narrative and brings to life the olive-skinned cast of Renaissance Spaniards.This is a worthy translation of a beautiful and engaging book. (author's, illustrator's, historical, biographical, literary notes) (Picture book/poetry. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
