Xóchitl y Papalotl

Xóchitl y Papalotl is an early middle-grade picture book for young readers about 10-year-old Xóchitl's adventure through the Forbidden Forest as she helps a monarch butterfly to its sanctuary in Michoacán, Mexico. Remembering the legend that helping a butterfly grants a wish from the goddess Xochitlquétzal, she decides to help. Xóchitl follows the butterfly into the forest as she sings a butterfly song her grandmother taught her. On her journey, she faces El Cucuy, a tricky boogeyman. With cleverness, she outsmarts him and returns home safely. Xóchitl y Papalotl is just one of the many tales from this author's storytelling collection.

"A whimsical...story of natural and cultural appreciation." -Kirkus Indie Reviews

Sandra Aguirre-Magaña is a bilingual storyteller, educator, and author. Although she now resides in El Paso, Texas, she is a native of the vibrant Mexican American neighborhood of Pilsen in Chicago. Her stories are deeply rooted in the proud Tepehuan storytelling culture and tradition, a heritage she inherited from her family, particularly her grandmothers, who were great "tellers." Sandra has shared her scary stories, personal narratives, fairytales, and folktales at the National Storytelling Summits, Tejas Storytelling Festivals, libraries, schools, and other literary events across the United States and internationally. She is a dedicated member of the National Storytelling Network, the Tejas Storytelling Association, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), volunteering on boards and committees for these organizations. She is grateful to travel and share her stories with diverse people. She is convinced that through the arts, one can convey the commonality of our human experience and, thus, reach a mutual understanding to respect all people. Carmen Casillas is a young artist from Chicago. She has loved creating art since kindergarten, and it will always be her passion. She paints, creates 3D sculptures, and shoots photographs to capture vibrant memories and share them with the world through her eyes. Being able to express herself in various media allows her to focus on the things in life that are most important to her. Pre-college courses at The Art Institute of Chicago have pushed the limits of her art and helped her become confident in her painting skills. She has continued to learn and explore in her practice with scenery inspired by her family's hometown in Mexico. She had always thought her art should be neat and perfect, but she now embraces the messy lines and shapes, leaving her feeling incomplete without it.

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