Galápagos girl

PreS-Gr 3-In 2007, Arnold visited the Galápagos Islands where she met biologist and naturalist guide Valentina Cruz. This book was inspired by the childhood stories Cruz shared with the author about growing up and getting to know the animals on Floreana, one of the many Galápagos Islands. As she explored her island home, she learned about the unique species that inhabit the islands and the dangers they face due to increased population, tourism, and foreign species. She promised herself she would help to protect them. Eventually, she left home to go to school, but returned home to learn more about the animals. Today, as a naturalist guide, she hopes that by sharing her knowledge, experience, and respect for the animals, others will be inspired to help keep them safe. Dominguez's playful pencil-on-illustration board artwork brings the child and the creatures in her world to life. The back matter includes an author's note, more facts about the Galápagos Islands, information on each of the animals mentioned in the story, and a bibliography. The Spanish text of this bilingual book is a very adept translation. VERDICT Readers are presented here with an unsung and worthy heroine. Recommended for picture book and biography collections.-Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, Princeton, NJ © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This bilingual (English and Spanish) picture-book biography chronicles the early life of biologist Valentina Cruz. Born in 1971 on Floreana, a Galpagos Island, Cruz spends much of her childhood exploring the flora and fauna around her home. Readers accompany Cruz on an introductory tour of Floreana, brought to vivid life through illustrator Dominguezs digitally colored pencil illustrations of Galpagos penguins, sea lions, and the famous Galpagos tortoises. When Cruzs father informs her of the reality of extinction that many of these animals face, she vows to do what she can to keep them safe. Upon completing her education (at the University of Havana, per the appended authors note), Cruz comes home to lead nature excursions for visitors and shares her appreciation of the island with them; according to the authors note, thats how Arnold met Cruz and was inspired to tell her story. The book adopts the English-to-Spanish bilingual model throughout (including back matter), and translation of the text and its grammar are concise and accurate, making the story accessible for English-speakers and English-?language learners alike. With its vibrant illustrations and engaging text about a true galapaguea, the volume shows that Cruz has kept her promise to her beloved Floreana all these years. monica tapia boyer (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Valentina is born a Galpagos girl, a galapaguea, and experiences the joy of growing up among the unique wildlife the Galpagos have to offer.Arnold has penned a poetic love letter to the spectacular wildlife of the Galpagos, inspired by Valentina Cruz, a biologist and conservationist. From blue-footed boobies to tortoises and even penguins, the islands seem to have it all. Readers will enjoy this quiet story of a young girl who finds not only a love of nature, but a way to come home to it again after study overseas, to protect it, and to share it with the world. Angela Dominguez's precise and clean but lively and colorful illustrations really bring everything to life and pull the book together. Young readers wanting more will find extensive backmatter with information about the real Valentina as well as all of the animals they meet within the pages. The text is in English and repeated in Adriana Domnguez's Spanish translation, which results in sometimes-crowded pages. Readers may find themselves wishing for two separate editions. More a celebration of the Galpagos wildlife and a call to action than a traditional story, the book will fascinate readers with Valentina's magical island life, and they will wish for nothing more than to swim with manta rays themselves.A timely lesson of conservation that will get kids looking at the wildlife around them and saying, "We will not forget you. And we will keep you safe." (author's note, Galpagos facts, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.