Floating amid the wide and wonderful ocean of children’s books are special treasures: international books. When we look at tales from beyond our borders, our eyes and hearts open to new perspectives and deeper truths. In the case of Yael Berstein–the one-woman-powerhouse behind Tapioca Stories—we also find out-of-the-box surprises that dazzle and delight.
Tapioca Stories is a New York based publisher of Latin American children’s books published for American readers in both English and Spanish editions. Originally written in Spanish or Portuguese, each of Tapioca Stories’ unique titles is brought to life by artists whose distinctive uses of color, materials, and perspectives make their illustrations as distinctive as the stories themselves.
We invite you to explore some of the newest Tapioca Stories’ jaw-dropping creations that will spark curiosity, feed deep thinking, and nurture imaginations of all ages.
Originally written in Portuguese, Martello, Marcelo, Marshmallow is author Ruth Rocha’s 1976 Brazilian children’s classic that introduces the fanciful wordplay imagined by young Marcelo. Marcelo is desperately dissatisfied with the way people name the things around them. So he creates his own vocabulary—leading to more than a few communication confusions! Newly translated by Tal Goldfajn for English language readers, this laugh-a-minute tale is brought to brilliant life by illustrator Ana Matsusaki’s quirky collage creations.
Get ready for an imagination-sparking glimpse into an imagined future in Future. Author María José Ferrada teams up with illustrator Mariana Alcántara Pedraza, as they have done before, to take readers on a mind-bending journey into the “what ifs” of tomorrow. Through whimsical prose and charming illustrations, this silvery book introduces children to enchanting, otherworldly ideas by taking a science fiction trek with robots, rocket ships, and other fantastic permutations of our shared future. Translated into English by Kit Maude, this fun, futuristic tale is available in English and Spanish editions.
Natura invites young readers on a journey through a metaphorical forest that represents the invisible universes nestled within the heart of every tree, leaf, and page of this captivating book. Author Maria Jose Ferrada and illustrator Mariana Alcántara create another unique and immersive reading experience where transparent overlaying pages reveal hidden discoveries. Crisp and poetic descriptions in English and Spanish with translator Kit Maude offer yet another layer of connection and discovery to this beautiful bilingual book that shines most brightly in the hands of nature-loving readers.
Is Aldo a regular playful dog, or is he a…GHOST DOG? This is the question as wonderfully whimsical author/illustrator Joaquin Camp introduces canine-loving readers to Aldo in Aldo Ghost Dog. When playful pup Aldo takes a tumble into a bedsheet drying on a clothesline, he emerges as a ghost dog! Or…at least that’s what Aldo thinks. At first he loves being a ghost dog–he can get away with so much mischief! But eventually he realizes that what really brings him joy are his owner Marta, and of course his beloved red ball. This giggle-filled tale is delightfully translated by Kit Maude.
Disagreements…arguments…disputes. Most of the time these all involve one thing: talking. LOTS of talking, and usually loudly. But not so in Disagreement, created by Nani Brunini. Entirely wordless, this powerful and thought-provoking tale follows a group of people from the start of an argument to its collaborative conclusion. Intricate images flow in contrasting dark orange and blue on a white background, drawing us into the emotional chaos of an argument spinning away from its initial spark. Luckily, the group eventually discovers that they have more to gain by working together rather than against each other. This is a tale made all the more powerful for its lack of words, with rich potential for sparking important conversations!
Spanning word play to ghost dogs, and futuristic fantasies to our own all-too-human foibles, these Latin America-sourced tales offer us glimpses into new ways to see our world and ourselves. Keep exploring possible worlds with these tales and more from Tapioca Stories.