María Mariposa by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Ana Ramírez González
María lives in a brand new country, and on the first day of school, a gift arrives on her windowsill from Mexico: a mariposa. The butterfly carries the memory of her old home on its wings, and it helps her feel more brave. Feeling the butterfly’s magic within her, María spreads her love with kind actions on her way to school. But all that magic flees at school, and she loses her confidence. At recess, she remembers the butterfly within her and decides to be brave. This is a beautiful, compassionate picture book about immigration, starting school, and making friends. Back matter includes an author’s note about magical realism and her journey from Mexico to the United States, as well as facts about butterfly migration.
