The Coquíes Still Sing: A Story of Home, Hope, and Rebuilding

Pura Belpré Honor Book for Children's Text
Pura Belpré Honor Book for Children's Illustration
Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books of 2022
Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee's Best Children's Books of the Year 2023

"This book is more than beautiful." - Yuyi Morales, Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling creator of Dreamers

A powerful story about home, community, and hope, inspired by the rebuilding of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017, created by Pura Belpré honor-winning author Karina González and illustrator Krystal Quiles.
Co-quí, co-quí! The coquí frogs sing to Elena from her family's beloved mango tree--their calls so familiar that they might as well be singing, "You are home, you are safe." But home is suddenly not safe when a hurricane threatens to destroy everything that Elena knows.

As time passes, Elena, alongside her community, begins to rebuild their home, planting seeds of hope along the way. When the sounds of the coquíes gradually return, they reflect the resilience and strength of Elena, her family, and her fellow Puerto Ricans.

The Coquies Still Sing is also available in Spanish.

Author: Karina Nicole González
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 08/23/2022
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.50h x 9.80w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781250787187
Audience: Ages 4-8


Award: Pura Belpre Award - Honor Book
Award: Pura Belpre Award - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2022
School Library Journal 07/22/2022 pg. 1
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2022 pg. 59
Publishers Weekly 09/26/2022
Booklist 03/10/2023

About the Author

Karina Nicole González spent her childhood between New Jersey and Puerto Rico. She is an educator and speech-language pathologist for NYC public schools, where Karina uses story-telling as a tool for language development with her elementary school students. Karina lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Aaron. She is the author of The Coquies Still Sing.

Krystal Quiles has been drawing in her room since she could hold a pencil. She studied illustration and fine arts at Pratt Institute, and holds a BFA in Communication Design. Originally from the Bronx, Krystal works as a Freelance Illustrator in Brooklyn, where she creates pieces that are lively, fun and dimensional while embracing what it is to be a girl. She is the illustrator of The Coquies Still Sing.