The Children of the Sun
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2026

The Children of the Sun

Written by Micaela Chirif · Translated by Lawrence Schimel · Illustrated by Juan Palomino

Part of the Stories from Latin America series

The Sun sends two children to earth to build the very first city.

4.0 Goodreads · 34 ratings
44 pages· 860L· AR ~5.5
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Bookroo's summary

Long ago, a flame from the Sun falls into Lake Titicaca and becomes a young man and woman. The Sun sends them to found the first city and teach people to farm, cook and weave. An Inca origin story retold by Peruvian poet Micaela Chirif, translated from Spanish.

From the publisher

⭐ "Utterly spellbinding...An origin epic brilliantly retold." --Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)⭐ "A wondrous adaptation of a Peruvian creation story." --Horn Book (STARRED REVIEW)The birth of human civilization is recounted in this celebrated Incan legend, retold by Peruvian poet Micaela Chirif and award-winning illustrator Juan Palomino.How was the world's first city formed? How did people learn to plant crops, cook food, and weave fabric? One day, back when the world was new and no one built houses, the Sun saw himself reflected in the waters of Lake Titicaca. He came closer to his own shining face, and a flame fell into the lake, giving birth to a young man and young woman. The Sun gave his son and daughter an important task: to found the very first city, a place where they could teach humans better ways of living. The children of the Sun set out to find the perfect spot, and the people of the earth followed them.With rich language and striking art, poet Micaela Chirif (Peru) and New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book winner Juan Palomino (Mexico) retell a story from the Incan empire that once ruled western South America. The Children of the Sun invites today's children to hear an explanatory myth from a pre-Colombian culture--and ponder how it relates to other stories about cities and communities. The Children of the Sun is translated from Spanish by award-winning translator Lawrence Schimel and is part of Eerdmans' Stories from Latin America series. An engaging way to explore fables, myths, and legends as well as South American culture during Indigenous People's Day and Hispanic Heritage Month.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
44
Reading age
5–9
Audience
Picture
Lexile
860L
AR book level
~5.5
The author

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
F&P level
~T
Publication
Published
March 31, 2026
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780802856548

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