The Mirabal Sisters, From Caterpillars to Butterflies

By Raynelda Calderon

"An inspiring and unusual story of heroic women." - Kirkus Reviews

"...This book describes the important impact the Mirabal sisters had on their local community, as well as the history of women in general, and brings their legacy to light." - Booklist

Born in a small town in the Dominican Republic, the Mirabal sisters lived at a time when the country was under the merciless rule of a dictatorship. Their deaths on November 25, 1960 (at ages 36, 34, and 25), have received international coverage. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on November 25.

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Raynelda's newest book is a powerful addition to her collection of children's books about inspirational Hispanic women throughout history.

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies, strikes a stark contrast between the power of love and the greed for power, and highlights for young people the importance of being brave.

The four sisters - Patria, Ded?, Minerva, and Mar?a Teresa - grew up in a happy and loving home in the Dominican Republic, but they lived with the ever-pressing cloud of the dictator-president Trujillo's rule hanging over them. Trujillo allowed the people very little freedom. The Mirabal sisters knew the power of a loving home, as well as the power of bucking "the normal" (such as women not wearing pants or driving cars like men did), and they would not settle for the tyranny of Trujillo's reign.

The beloved sisters were called "Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)" by their people, and they really did have a butterfly effect on their country by standing up to Trujillo. Three of the 4 sisters did not live to see the results of their courage, but fear of the future did not stop them from being brave.

Raynelda tells the story of the Mirabal sisters vividly, and Mar?a Ocampo's illustrations help bring them to life. The Mirabal sisters may have lived many years ago now, but their story is of timeless importance: they are an example of fearless bravery in the ominous face of darkness.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1955328064
• ISBN13: 9781955328067
• Release Date: March 2022
• Publisher: Cayena Press, Inc.
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Very good historical fiction

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK I have never heard of The Mirabal sisters until I read this book. They were born in the Dominican Republic when the country was under rule of a dictatorship. On November 25, 1960 the sisters lost their life, and their death has gotten international coverage. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on November 25. Though this book is for eight to ten year old children, there are issues here that I’m not sure I would want that age reading. I would suggest you read this for yourself before letting a child read it. Maybe you can read it to your children and ask any questions they may have. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A. Calderon is a very sad story. I think Calderon does a really nice job writing this story simple enough for children to understand yet she adds what needs to be added to the story to make it accurate. Maria Ocampo does a fantastic job with the beautiful illustrations inside and outside of the book. A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Mirabal Sisters

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies is a wonderful children’s book by Raynelda A. Calderón. I admit that I do not know much about Dominican Republic history. Even though this book is geared for younger books, I very much enjoyed learning about the sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa. I found learning about them and their fight for to help free themselves and the people of their country was so inspiring. What they did and how they contributed for this freedom was so admirable. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies is beautifully illustrated by the talented artist Maria Ocampo. The pictures were a perfect addition to the book that made the story about the sisters so much more. They helped hold the attention of my young ones and it was helpful to visualized what the words on the page was saying. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages six and ten and enjoy learning about people. This would be a great addition for a local or school library. I would love to read more about these sisters in an adult version book and hope author, Raynelda A Calderón, would consider writing one in the future. I received a soft cover copy of The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.