The Caiman
The unforgettable story of a man and his alligator.
When Faoro the clockmaker adopts a baby alligator, 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. Now their story is being shared with the world.
In this delightful picture book first published in Venezuela, the author brings us back to her own childhood in Venezuela, as one of the children who used to visit this famous caiman, to tell the story of a man who loved animals and how his friendship with his alligator sparked a lasting legacy.
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About the Author
María Eugenia Manrique is one of the girls portrayed in this story. She rode the caiman when she visited her family in San Fernando de Apure. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. She studied fine art in Mexico City, specializing in xylography and engraving; Eastern painting at Nankín University, China; and sumi-e and calligraphy at the Nihon Shuji Kyoiku Zaidan Foundation in Japan. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Puerto Rico, China, Italy, Argentina, and Japan. In 2014 she won the Grand Prize in Eastern Painting at the International Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exposition at the Anshan Museum in China. She has published four books on Eastern painting. The Caiman is her first children's book.
Ramón París was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and as a child lived in Barinas, a plains state like Apure, where he also heard the story of the caiman. He currently lives in Barcelona, Spain. His first book for children, Un abuelo, sí, was followed by Un perro en casa, Estaba la rana, and most recently Duermevela, which was selected for the Bologna Book Fair Illustrator's exhibition. His books have been recognized with honors including Los Mejores del Banco del Libro; the IBBY Honour List; Fundación Cuatrogatos; and White Ravens, and have been translated into Chinese, Portuguese, French, Catalan, Korean, German, and now English. He works to create a unique atmosphere for every story he illustrates, because each one speaks to him in a different voice.
Amy Brill's fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous publications including the Washington Post, Medium, Real Simple, Oprah.com, and One Story. Her first novel, The Movement of Stars, was published by Riverhead Books in 2013. A native New Yorker, Amy grew up in Corona, Queens, and currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
A New York Times Globetrotting Pick!
A 2021 World Literature Today Notable Translation
"The striking illustrations...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." --Booklist (starred review)
"A poignant visual narrative does double duty to carry this translated tale honoring a lasting bond." --Kirkus Reviews
