by Julia Alvarez
(Singapore: 2000)
($16.95 in U.S. - $24.95 in Can)
In a time not so long ago and on an island not so far away lived a tribe of creatures called ciguapas. They lived in cool blue caves underwater and came out on land only at night to hunt for food. Luckily, they had a secret that kept them safe from humans: their feet were on backward, so no one could follow their foodsteps.
But once, their secret was almost discovered.
In this lyrically written legend, Julia Alvarez introduces us to the magical ciguapas, and a brave and bold young one named Guapa, the only one who isn't afraid of humans. How Guapa's curiosity nearly costs the tribe their freedom makes for a captivating and entertaining tale. Together with Fabian Negrin's radiant paintings, this story of the ciguapas as reinvented by an acclaimed storyteller will linger long in readers' imaginations.