Wifredo's Jungle

Newbery Honor and Pura Belpré Medal Winner Margarita Engle and New York Times bestselling illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara bring to light the life of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, who portrayed the enduring Afro Cuban spirit culture through his art.

In a village on the tropical island of Cuba, a boy named Wifredo Lam loved to draw his surroundings—hot blue air, cool green leaves, and brilliant flowers.

As he grew older, Lam paid tribute to his Cuban, West African, and Chinese heritage through his art, which brought dignity and respect to Cuba’s rich mix of cultures.

Inspired by and in contact with some of the most renowned artists of the early 20th century, such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and André Breton, Lam blended European cubism and surrealism with multicultural influences to create his own unique style, culminating in the creation of his masterpiece La Jungla (The Jungle).

From Margarita Engle, a Newbery Honor Winner and a former Young People’s Poet Laureate, and Jacqueline Alcántara, a New York Times bestselling illustrator, Wifredo’s Jungle introduces young readers to the trailblazing life and work of Wifredo Lam.

Back matter includes: more information about the life of Lam and where to see his works; a glossary; and a bibliography.