The caiman

María Eugenia Manrique

Book - 2021

"When Faoro the clockmaker adopts a baby caiman, he has no idea that someday their story will travel far and wide. But the town of San Fernando de Apure would never forget this kind young man and his adoring alligator, who played with the neighborhood children, took part in Faoro's wedding, and, eventually, mourned his loss"--Dust jacket flap.

Saved in:

Children's Room Show me where

jE/Manrique
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Manrique Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Amazon Crossing Kids 2021.
Language
English
Spanish
Main Author
María Eugenia Manrique (author)
Other Authors
Ramón París (illustrator), Amy Brill (translator)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
Translation of : La caimana.
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 19 x 32 cm
ISBN
9781542031585
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

People adopt stray cats or dogs every day--they are obvious choices for cuddly companions--but what about a stray alligator? In this real-life-inspired tale, children come upon an orphaned caiman on a Venezuelan riverbank, and Faoro, a local jeweler and watchmaker, takes it upon himself to raise the abandoned reptile, naming the dark critter Night and raising her from a pocket-size pet to a 10-foot-long sidekick. He builds her a wonderful watery habitat in his yard, though she prefers to sleep in his bed and accompany him to work, agreeably playing with the curious neighborhood children and welcoming Faoro's fiancée as part of an unconventional family. It's a remarkable story of an unusual, lifelong friendship, made even more pleasurable by the fact that the author is one of the children who played with the caiman. Manrique adds photos and more details about the fascinating Faoro in illuminating endnotes. The striking illustrations, created with Copic markers, Chinese ink brush, and digital touches, have a wild and whimsical feel about them, featuring lush foliage and expressive characters, including the eventually enormous caiman. It's a memorable and unexpected demonstration of the universality of love, grief, and kindness.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A nostalgic memory of adoption, affection, and loyalty offers opportunities to ponder the nature-versus-nurture question. Scrolling past potted plants and a newborn caiman, the opening spread promises an intriguing story. Immense alligators floating in the foreground are hunted for their skins while diminutive human figures along the river bank define the middle ground, establishing distance and perspective against a city's architecture in the background. The trim size (7 inches high by 12 inches long) and landscape orientation are instrumental in shaping the narrative as Night grows from a baby caiman into her full size after the town jeweler and watchmaker Faoro takes her home. Night is the star attraction as would-be customers line up to pet her and neighborhood children arrive to play. (One grows up to become the author, according to her bio.) Although Faoro builds a freshwater pool for Night's accommodations, the premise of domesticating wildlife may feel problematic to some contemporary readers, particularly when Night "show[s] off" gold-capped fangs at Faoro's wedding. Nonetheless, at the heart of this retelling are the devotion and powerful connection between loved ones that transcend species and death. The illustrations evoke meticulous ink paintings that leverage negative space to focus on the vibrant palette and nuanced textures without cluttering the composition or imaginative spaces suggested by the layout. Characters are depicted with paper-white skin and black or gray hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A poignant visual narrative does double duty to carry this translated tale honoring a lasting bond. (biographical note) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.