Second Book/Version of "Are You My Papa": Picture Book
A Little Egg Named Huevito or 21 Days
This is a tentative title for the SECOND BOOK, a shortest version of the original story "Are You My Papá" (FIRST BOOK). It consists of the two first pages of the original story "Are You My Papá?" The characters are egg and nature (wind, a tree, ants). These changes confirm to me the need to write stories concerning the perception of our world through the eyes of one or more eggs as part of a saga in different countries. Changes has been made accordingly to a picture book ages 3-8, not exceeding 30 words per page. This measuremente is recommended for picture book publishers. Originally for this second book, I wanted to tell the story in 21 pages, corresponding to the amount of twenty-one days until the egg hatches. In the text below, I organize the content of this picture book in 32 units to be developed into a dummy, ideally with my photos. If using my photos is not possible, I am willing to present it with my drawings.
Double Audience As mother of a 30 years old daughter, I remember what books interested me the most. They were stories for which I as an adult was able to identify myself. Reading for another but reading for me. An example is Shel Silverstein. All his work with different styles, language and voices. I can see the author and at the same time, each story is unique. Having this in mind, I hope my drawings to give and idea of what I was seeing while writing.
Thus, the constant in these two books is the element of role play of the character, Little Egg or Huevito. The heroe or heroine will be part of a traveling theater. This notion was in fashion in Medieval times. Some ot these traditions are in Cirque du Soleil and Bread & Puppet Theater. I hope to set example through my drawings that can serve to other illustrations as guide. Playing in the shadows, doing figures on the walls, is a universal game. Its one of the first expressions of shadow puppetry. I wish that my drawings can motivate creativity in the children.
These drawings are consistent with the original book that ends with a traveling puppet theater. My experience as mother and professor tells me that creativity at this early age can be stimulated in relation to reading. In conjunction with this version, I would like to propose shadow puppetry to illustrate the story.
What children 3-8 can learn:
—about science, such as the time an egg takes to hatch;
—about physical or mental disabilities/limitations;
—about differences and how to understand other ways of seeing, hearing, speaking, etc.;
—about shadows from a scientific perspective. Also, for another point of view promoting fantasy through shadow puppetry;
—about open ending stories (the idea of open endings. Hopefully, the entire process of writing "Are Your My Papá" can be developed as a serial of stories. Little Egg is the protagonist with other eggs of different colors.
—about the search for answers of belonging, identity, race, and related.
—About concepts and performance of "Let's Pretend."
Draft 1: Original story Are You My Papa?
During the LKBF children's conference of 2024, I presented the manuscript "Are You My Papá? for two consultations, one with the writer Aida Salazar and the other with the illustrator Joe Cepeda. For the writing part, I didn't include my photos used to illustrate the story.
Salazar's two main observations and concerns were: 1) Little Egg starts with nature and animals, then continue with people; 2) everything has to be in the present tense.
On the other hand, Joe Cepeda saw the text with the photos. He said that my next step consists in the preparation of a 32 pages dummy.
In the summer of 2025, in preparation to the second LKBF in New York City, I contacted Elizabeth Lilly whose name appears in the webpage of Las Musas Books (https://www.lasmusasbooks.com). As result of that first meeting, it seems that the photos can be an obstacle as per a traditional market.
Based on Aida Salazar's observations:
1) I decided to divide the story from paragraphs to one line sentences. The cut didn't include the section with the hens (middle part before Huevito goes to town and meet humans); and didn't include Huevito asking different men "Are you my papá."
Draft 2: A Little Egg Named Huevito or 21 Days (tentative title)
1 In just twenty-one days
a Little Egg named Huevito will break its shell.
2 Huevito has no face and body, not like yours.
3 No eyes to see, as you see.
4 Little Egg has ho hands to touch, as you do.
5 Little Egg has no ears to hear as you hear.
6 No tongue nor throat to talk, scream, and cry as you cry.
7 Little Egg has no legs to walk or run as you run.
8 No wings to fly as you fly. Upps, do you fly?
9 Huevito is a very curious little egg.
10 And only with one day old,
throws its first question to the winds,
"Where is my papa?"
11 The wind doesn’t answer with words.
Nobody can't see the wind. You can hear her whistle.
12 Blowing and dancing voice with leaves or waves in the ocean.
13 Little Egg hears an echo through the silence of the wind.
14 Words returning back the same but different through air,
"¿Dónde está mi papá?"
15 "Where is your papa?," answer the ants calling to help.
They bring down Little Egg from its nest.
16 In the ground, Huevito sees beautiful purplish trees.
17 There is a huge jacaranda-mother tree and her shadow.
18 Little Egg looks up and asks her,
“Dear Jacaranda with your great shadow,
Are you my papá?”
19 The two hundred years Jacaranda responds
with low and slow voice.
20 “I am not your father. But no wooorries."
21 In 20 more days Huevito will change from egg to chick.
22 Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
23 Egg and chick are two but they are one.
24 All eggs inside look the same. They have a big heart
sounding fast and faster every day. Tucutu, tucutu, tucutu tu tu.
25. Outside are different. You have seen them.
They can be white. They can be brown.
26. Both are cute and very quiet as they learn from the rock.
27 Wait until the shell breaks.
Wait until the sun sit and sets. Sets and sits.
28. Wait until the moon is round again.
See how the egg with no eyes will see.
29 See if Little Egg or Huevito finds its dad or an abuelo,
an uncle, a man who like to be a dad.
30 Go and find the sun or a lamp. Play with you shadows.
Play with numbers and words behind the curtain.
31 What does it says? Oh, The End.
32 Oh, the end but there is something going on behind the curtains.