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INTEREST LEVEL: Age 8-12 READING LEVEL: Grades 3-5 LEXILE LEVEL: GN540L AUTHOR: Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez INTRODUCTION: F. Isabel Campoy LANGUAGES: English & Spanish PAGES: 56 DIMENSIONS: 7.75" x 10" RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2021 SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE in FOUR EDITIONS: ENGLISH HARDCOVER EDITION ISBN: 978-1-943145-55-3 ENGLISH PAPERBACK EDITION ISBN: 978-1-943145-56-0 SPANISH HARDCOVER EDITION ISBN: 978-1-943145-57-7 SPANISH PAPERBACK EDITION ISBN: 978-1-943145-58-4 |
About the BookA damsel to the rescue! Raised by a mean ogre of a father who eats his opponents for dinner, Blancaflor is often told not to show off her own considerable powers for fear of scaring off suitors. When a prince falls from the sky and wakes up in her lap, she is spellbound.
She moves heaven and earth to help the endearing, yet not so clever, young man, all while trying not to let him know. With their trademark magnificent brio, Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez update a classic Latin American tale extolling the strength and resourcefulness of women. |
“I wanted to make this story format of 'maiden as helper to the hero' into one where the helping that she does is seen as the heroic element . . . and where she has to learn to show off her true powers."
-Nadja Spiegelman
One of the New York Times Best Children's Books of 2021
"[Blancaflor] is splendidly designed and impeccably colored, and it crackles along at an adventurous pace that makes it excellent treehouse reading." --The New York Times "Witty and touching" --The Wall Street Journal "Spiegelman’s retelling is a fresh take on the classic story, with contemporary and effortless language that will resonate with modern audiences. Sánchez’s energetic illustrations are a visual delight." --The Horn Book Magazine STARRED REVIEW "An energetic, girl-power addition to the fairy- and folktales shelf.” --Kirkus Reviews |
"A female-focused lens infuses the classic tale with new energy.”
--Publishers Weekly "This version of the classic story is a lovely confluence of European and North American culture that celebrates the strength and wit of a young girl whose abilities have been overlooked or underestimated." --School Library Journal "It’s impossible not to be charmed by art so full of personality, and the story itself is a subversive treat—Blancaflor’s no damsel in distress, but the one who ultimately saves the day." --Booklist "It's gorgeous and smart!" --Author and librarian Betsy Bird "The text and art work wonderfully together to tell an ancient tale with relatable sensibilities." --Youth Services Book Review, 5 out of 5 stars |
“A recurring theme in the Latino experience is a celebration of strong women. Like so many señoras and señoritas in Hispanic families, the independent mothers, sisters, and daughters in these folktales have the inner strength to rise above obstacles and to overcome adversity.”
-F. Isabel Campoy
About the Songs in Blancaflor: A Teaching Moment
Lauren Summa, an elementary school music teacher and astute reader, brought to our attention that the choosing song "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe," originally used in the script, has a highly-charged and racist history. (Click here to read more about the origins of this and other problematic rhymes.) As the article states, "What do you do with these songs? Ban them? Stop singing them? Change them? For the most part, schools in the U.S. have gone with the latter." Once it was pointed out to us that the meaning of this rhyme is rooted in the slave trade, we opted to change it.
In the Spanish version, Blancaflor, la heroína con poderes secretos the prince sings the Latin American rhyme, "Pinto Pinto Gorgorito," which doesn't carry the same racist history. From now on, "Pinto Pinto Gorgorito" will replace "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe" in future printings of the English edition of Blancaflor, the Hero with Secret Powers. We encourage readers to discuss the racist origins of this widely-known rhyme and to look for alternatives.
Simultaneous Release in Spanish!
TOON Graphic Special Features
The world of TOON Graphics and of comic book art is rich and varied. Making meaning out of reading with the aid of visuals may be the best way to become a lifelong reader, one who knows how to read for pleasure and for information—a reader who loves to read. Blancaflor includes these special features to support both visual and verbal literacy:
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Teacher's Guide
Prepared by Richard Kutner, the head of the TOON Educational Team, our Teacher Guide outlines the ELA Common Core Standards to support standards-based instruction in the classroom using Blancaflor.
The objectives for students include:
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“Taking it upon yourself to be seen is a huge part of this story.”
Author-Blogger-Librarian Betsy Bird Talks "Blancaflor" with Author Nadja Spiegelman:
About the Authors
By authors who also brought you Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure
★ Earning SIX Starred Reviews! ★ This story—which features maps, archival photos, and fascinating facts—will help readers explore the subway without leaving their seats. It brings all the bustle and beauty of NYC to young readers around the world.
Available in Spanish as Perdidos en NYC: una aventura en el metro
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