Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra finds refuge from his difficult childhood
by imagining the adventures of a brave but clumsy knight.
This fictionalized first-person biography in verse of Miguel de
Cervantes Saavedra follows the early years of the child who grows up to
pen Don Quixote, the first modern novel. The son of a vagabond
barber-surgeon, Miguel looks to his own imagination for an escape from
his family's troubles and finds comfort in his colorful daydreams.
At a time when access to books is limited and imaginative books are
considered evil, Miguel is inspired by storytellers and wandering actors
who perform during festivals. He longs to tell stories of his own. When
Miguel is nineteen, four of his poems are published, launching the
career of one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language.
Award-winning author Margarita Engle's distinctive picture book
depiction of the childhood of the father of the modern novel, told in a
series of free verse poems, is enhanced by Raúl Colón's stunning
illustrations. Back matter includes a note from both the author and
illustrator as well as additional information on Cervantes and his novel
Don Quixote.