Fonchito and the Moon

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature Mario Vargas Llosa

Illustrations by Marta Chicote Juiz

“A very sweet story. It’s very romantic. It’s lovely.”
—Christiane Amanpour, CNN

“Heavenly bodies are all well and good, but this tale of permission asked and granted is worth more than the moon.”
—Kirkus

“Dreamy illustrations and moody palettes play with the contrast of light and shadow in this sweet tale about first loves and childhood imagination.”
—Foreword

“This ethereal picture book is an excellent way to introduce young readers to the lyricism of Vargas Llosa.”
—School Library Journal

“An inspirational story for children, focusing on finding a way to achieve the impossible and the merits of not giving up, the illustrations … are bright and colorful and brilliantly bring the story to life.”
—SA Examiner

Fonchito is a little boy with his heart set on winning the affection of his classmate Nereida. She is beautiful, and all he hopes for is her permission to kiss her on the cheek. But she is shy and agrees under only one condition: that Fonchito bring the moon to her. Bring her the moon? What is Fonchito to do? And in that moment his love inspires him to find a way to do the impossible. This first children’s book by Mario Vargas Llosa, one of the world’s greatest writers, is an enchanting story about the magic in discovering how high you can reach for those you love, even if they ask for the moon.

Mario Vargas Llosa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 in recognition of his contribution as one of the most important voices in contemporary literature. His novels include The Time of the Hero, The Feast of the Goat, and Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. Fonchito and the Moon is his first children’s book.

Marta Chicote Juiz graduated with a degree in fine arts from the Complutense University of Madrid, and later studied in England. Her illustrations have been published in books throughout the world.

Hardcover | jacketed
10.25 x 9.5 inches | 32 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8-9859558-0-4
$20.95 | Children
October 2022