Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land

by Mirelle Ortega

In her debut as author and illustrator, Mirelle Ortega shares her own story of growing up near her family’s pineapple farm in Mexico, where she learned the true meaning of magic

Growing up on a pineapple farm in Mexico, a girl discovers the true meaning of the word magic in this truly magical picture book about change and transformation of all kinds—what we can’t control, such as natural disasters and loss, and what we can. Magic can transform dirt into pineapples, seeds into trees, wool into blankets, words into stories, blank pages into pictures and stories into book.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Latinx, Childrens, Magic, Realistic Fiction, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2022

About the author

Mirelle Ortega is a Mexican illustrator for kidlit and animation based in Los Angeles, California. She’s best known for winning the Animation! Prize at Ideatoon in 2019 with her pitch for THE HUMAN ADVENTURES OF BAY AND DOT. She was also a finalist to the Pitch Me The Future competition hosted by Cartoon Network LATAM in 2018. Mirelle has worked for early visual development for TV animation projects for companies like Imagine Kids & Family, Cubcoats and independent clients like screenwriter Gary Whitta. She’s currently Background Lead for a 2D animated short for the Pixar’s Co-Op Film Program. Additionally, she has also worked as a prolific illustrator for kid’s literature for publishing houses such as Harper Collins, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Benchmark, Little Bee, etc.

Reviews

[Hannah]

Okay, I positively LOVE the art here, and I died of happiness at the spread of dancers because they're doing La Bruja with candles on their heads and every detail of their costumes is absolutely correct and it brought me back to my folklorico days (but in a good way instead of my usual traumatic memories). Honestly I think the whole magic conceit made the book worse, not better, and that's my only bone to pick. Like sure, nature is Fern Gully magic, and so are gardening and architecture and cooking in their own little way or whatever, but instead of reading like authentic magical realism, it felt like it was just feeding into this whole magical, mystical Latines thing that white people are about. Without it, we would still have a perfectly nice story that in all other ways celebrates Mexican everyday life without a tired immigration story or whatever conservatives are mad about this week.

[Zhenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the personal feeling this story gave off. It felt like diving into the memories of the author. We explore the happy and sad that comes with life and how we have to learn to keep on going cause life doesn’t stop. The magic never dies.

Honestly if you’re a teacher, having kids make a visual journal for art class could be a fun exercise . That’s what this book felt like.

The art is gorgeous, colorful and really captives the moods expressed on the pages.

[Petique M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land by Mirelle Ortega on the class’s Waklete website under the Latin America section. It’s a children’s book with a Latin American theme as it authentically represents Latin American culture and heritage. This is the debut book by the author. The book was recognized nationally as an outstanding piece of children’s literature via Pura Belpré Youth Honor Book.

Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land by Mirelle Ortega is a beautiful illustrated picture book that is centered around the magic of family, heritage, and imagination. The story is set in Mexico. It is told and recalled by Mirelle Ortega herself. She tells memories to the reader about growing up near her family's pineapple farm in Mexico. She showcases the hard work her family does on each page of the book. Mirelle Ortega tells a vivid story of her Mexican culture and how that in itself is magical. Not the magic of fairytales, but the magic of resilience, love, traditions, roots, and community.

I would recommend this book for prek-3rd grade students. This book would be great to start conversations about family, family traditions, culture, and what magic can really mean to an individual. Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land can help build cultural awareness, celebrate the differences among students, and can be used as a mentor for students to write or draw their personal stories that represent who they are.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned magic isn't good or bad. It just it is. Sometimes it gives. Sometimes it takes. Sometimes it blossoms. Sometimes it wilts.

Truly wonderful. I personally enjoyed the art and how the author conveys her memories of her hometown. The personal feelings make it feel like she's taking me on a journey to a beautiful place where she was born and raised.

It's giving me a sense of nostalgia, missing home. I missed the time when I was younger. Life is truly magnificent; there are happy and sad parts, but we have to move forward. Magic never dies, and it will always be everywhere as long as we believe in it.

Oh iya. Aku menemukan vocab baru, yaitu Abuelo dan Abuela hehe (aku gak tau ini apa, asing) dan ternyata punya arti grandmother/grandfather. 🤍 love the colors in this story. ✨

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl finds powerful magic in the place where she lives. Her Abuelo's pineapple farm, the wool blankets her mother and tia make, and how her father an architect turns drawings into buildings, but there is also magic in the hard things, storms and plagues of bugs, sickness, and grief. Magic is always there.

The illustrations were beautiful, but the story was just a list of things from her childhood. Things she loved, or hard times she went through. I think adults will find nostalgia, but I don't see the appeal for children. The family is Mexican.

Cross-posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up for the art.

The illustrations are breathtaking, and this book celebrates the author's Mexican roots and extended family. This will appeal to people as a Hispanic heritage book, but there is nothing actually fantastical about it. The author keeps repeating the idea of how magical her homeland and family are, but some people will shy away from this language because they don't want to teach children that Mexico is exotic or that Hispanic people are fundamentally different from them. Overall, this book is better suited for adults than children, and it is mainly enjoyable as an art piece.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 ALA Pura Belpre Illustrator honor book

Author illustrator remembers the magic of growing up in a small agricultural village in Mexico, where many things change and grow, where a seed develops into a plant or a tree, under which you can sit for you, or the earth produces pineapples and the food they grow becomes feasts with friends and family . There is also loss and storms about over which you have no control, but you grow and go forward finding the magic in each day, bar and far away.
Lovely illustrations show us the life and customs of rural Mexico.

[Grace M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a fantasy take on the author, Mirelle Ortega’s, life. She paints a picture of the faraway land (Mexico) she traveled from and the magic that exists there, and the magic she continues to see in her life. This story was beautifully written. For example,
« Sometimes magic is hard to find./ Sometimes magic takes its time./ But it is always there. »
The use of colors and illustrations provides a detailed artistic expression to compliment the story.
The book is great for discussing themes of change, grief, family, and culture.
I highly recommend this book for Preschool- 2nd grade.

[Ruth Job Salamanca · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might be wondering why I read these children’s picture books. Simple answer is this: I read them because I’m looking for ones to gift to or recommend for my little cousins and godchildren. They say that if you want kids to do something or enjoy something, they you must build up the habit as soon as possible.

This book is indeed magical and is perfect for a couple of my goddaughters 🫶🏼 These are all right up their alley so they get another rec for Ninang day 🤩

[Angie Counsell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girls story of her family, how they helped shape her life and how magic can be seen in everything. I enjoyed the circle of life aspect - the abundance around the family and then the transition into the hard times (bugs, death, etc) but then the rebirth with Dia de los Muertos and the rebirth of the tree. It gives a glimpse into life in central Mexico while showing her family evolving through life. The illustrations were rich and vibrant and very well suited for the book.

[Jannell Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book explains the magic of change and transformation. The main character goes through life and its changes, seeing the beauty in each one. The ending however is sort of abrupt and left me expecting something that closed the book more effectively. Overall, the illustrations played a large role in the book and were very beautiful. The message of this book is also good, but the story just didn't seem like it had a good ending.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl, Mirelle, shares her life experiences growing up on a Pineapple farm in Mexico.
Through her imaginings and writings, she discovers magic in the ordinary and how it inspired her to share your story.

Mirelle Ortega's poetic writing and wonderful illustrations mark a fantastic debut for this author/illustrator and I can't wait to see what stories she shares next!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely book is good for the soul. It made me want to take a deep breath and think about all the magic in everyday "simple" things - the flowers blooming, my baby plants growing, hard work in the garden, warm hugs, and kindness. So much thanks to the author for bringing her beautiful childhood home to life for us, her readers.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful look back at the place which formed the author. Seeing her world through her eyes is a beautiful and magical thing. Truly. Yes, this story is tinged with sadness, but it gently leads the reader through grief to hope and even joy. This is so deeply resonant, I am glad I read this story.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magic is often some fantastical power, but this book celebrates the magic in everyday life, such as a seed becoming a plant and words becoming a story. It's a sentimental book that celebrates the magic of change and growing up. It could be a good one for a garden program or to celebrate where you come from.

[Maritere Rodriguez Bellas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book that celebrates the author's cultural roots and family. Beautifully written and illustrated, Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land reminds young readers that magic can come in many forms, it can take time, but it can happen anywhere around us. A story that will inspire young readers for many generations to come!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I learned that magic isn't good or bad, it just is. Sometimes it gives. Sometimes it takes. Sometimes it blossoms. Sometimes it wilts."

A gorgeous, heartfelt book that celebrates the author/illustrator's heritage and connection to Veracruz, Mexico.

[Maggie Kobus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. The colors are bright and vibrant with a smooth texture. Mirelle's account of her story growing up is both vivid and entertaining. You can tell she put her heart into this book, which makes it that much more inviting to read.

[Elizabeth Dowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story offers experiences from the main character’s past in Mexico. The illustrations are wonderful and full of color. The story relays the experiences well but could have used a little more explanation on some pages. Overall, the story was beautifully illustrated and offered learning experiences or ways to relate to the main character.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little girl telling this story was able to step back and be appreciative for all the things around her. Whether this was family, land, her culture. I think it will help students also appreciate the little things in life that we may typically take for granted.

[Jasmine Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this was an exceptional example of illustrative and design elements that contribute to children's literature. I especially like how the trim size presents as landscape and it's like you're traveling through the story along with the "magic". I also loved the jacket design of the book and how when removed the hardcover has a different and unique design that ties into the story. The same can be said about the endpapers and their design which presents later on and ties directly into the story as well. The written flow of the story could have potentially been smoother in my opinion however its contents are strongly cross cultural, and diversity is evident which is a very strong quality. Its use of design elements are exceptional in my opinion and they really make the story come to life and feel more alive.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations and story are beautiful! Can’t wait to read more of Mirelle’s books

[Sarsouraoura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning debut from our very own Mirelle!

[Aolund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: Magic, Immigration, Mexican-American Experience
Age range: Preschool-Elementary

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: Grief

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a young girls childhood growing up on her Grandparent's farm in Mexico.

A Pura Belpre illustration honor book.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty, but I think this will appeal to adults more than children. The author describes her early life in rural Mexico as magical. No actual fantastical elements.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming from Isla, a small town in Veracruz, Mexico, Ortega writes of the hard work of her abuelo y abuela and the support of each member of her family, her magic.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A visit to the author's hometown of Vera Cruz and the magic that is there.

Read for Librarian Book Group

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think kids will have a hard time relating to the meaning of "magic" in this book.