By Mariana Ruiz
Spain continues to be a point of reference for many in Latin America, like myself when it comes to illustration and beautifully told stories. For a long time, illustrators from South America flocked to Spain, mainly to Barcelona, to learn the trade and be published by the traditional publishers. Today, Latin Americans now proudly have imprints of their own, but Spain is where the foundations were laid.
In this blog post, I look at several well-known Spanish illustrators and authors who inspired previous generations. I hope readers in English will enjoy getting to them too. With their quirky sense of humor and silent reflections, it should be an unforgettable stop on the World Kid Lit tour!
Pig Dreams
Margarita Del Mazo and Guridi have paired up to discuss a specific part of sleep: counting sheep. In their first book together, sheep number four has decided she is tired of jumping. Her decision to stop causes havoc on the flock and on their owner’s sleep pattern. It is a beautiful metaphor about the burden of overworking, for little kids and their parents.
In Pig Dreams, this conundrum deepens as a pig asks himself: why does all counting have to be done by sheep? Why can’t pigs have a chance at it? After convincing his partners, pigs will quickly disguise themselves with wool and start jumping the fence. What seemed like a great job for them quickly sours. However, it turns out this is not an easy feat! Soon the entire drove is tired, bored, and sleepy!
It turns out that some jobs seem glamorous on the outside, only to be a real drag on the inside (as they require a bit of effort…). It is a fun reflection on what a job can entail.
April’s Journey
Written by Annamaria Piccione & Luis Amavisca
Illustrated by Francesc Rovira
Translated from Spanish
Published by NubeOcho, 2026
Buy from Bookshop.org US
This is a completely silent book that does not require a translation, as there are no words, only the journey of two kids, alone and fleeing, in a context of war.
I find that Rovira has a distinct style that is not naive but helps little kids focus on the details and expressions without providing explanations. It is a book that follows April as she seeks shelter, walks amidst the snow, sleeps in abandoned houses, and finally finds Julio. He is just another child who has lost everything. They only have their stuffed animals and their backpacks. And now, each other.
This journey is lived by thousands of migrants who flee armed conflicts and poverty in different places; the only difference is that they don’t get to cross an ocean. Refugees are not in new countries because they hate their homelands, but because circumstances have been harsh or they have no one left to take care of them. Migrant children suffer a lot and are the most vulnerable.
Also, as the book has no words, kids can intervene, speculate, and make up the details of April and Julio’s lives, maybe adding input from their own experiences. If they know or have a refugee in their family, they may finally find a story that is about them or their family experiences.
The Visit
Written by Núria Figueras
Illustrated by Anna Font
Translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026
Buy from Bookshop.org US
This is a meditative take on an unexpected visitor that may come (less and less) to your house when your parents aren’t home: Silence.
Little Fox knows her mom will be away and that she has to spend time inside her den, alone. It is an apprehensive moment. Then, she hears a knock at the door. A visitor called Silence.
At first, Silence feels big and strange. How often have we felt it come to us, maybe accompanied by a sunbeam, a quiet noise far away, its sound only emphasizing its presence in our room? Soon though, they divide a snack, and start sharing that particularly calm moment.
Silence helps Little Fox. He teaches her how to listen to her heartbeat and even her own thoughts. Maybe time spent with Silence isn’t so bad after all. Maybe Silence can be her friend.
To make Silence a permanent friend, some things are necessary: you have to allow space for him to visit, as loud noises and thoughts make him uncomfortable. Make space for Silence, and you will be rewarded with his company.
About Mariana Ruiz
A Bolivian children’s author with more than 18 books to her name, she has a degree in Philosophy and Literature and is a member of the Bolivian Academy of Children’s Literature. For the American market, she collaborates with Geekdad.com, recommending kidlit titles from all over the globe, and is proud to say that more and more translations are getting on her reading list.
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