Books About La Virgen de Guadalupe

The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Written by Pat Mora

Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Every December, Grandma Lupita tells Rose the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As they make paper flowers to put around her statue, Grandma begins: Long ago, on a cold December morning near what is now Mexico City, a man named Juan Diego put on his cloak and started down the road to church. On his way, Juan Diego sees a beautiful Lady at the top of a hill. She tells Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and ask him to build a special church for her. But the Bishop doesn't believe that Juan Diego has seen the Lady; he asks for a sign. Again the Lady sends Juan Diego, and again the Bishop asks for a sign. Until finally, she provides one: her shining image on Juan Diego's cloak for everyone to see.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Written by Carmen Bernier-Grand

Illustrated by Tonya Engel

One morning, while walking to an early church service, Juan Diego hears a voice calling, "Juanito! Juan Dieguito!" He comes face to face with the Virgin Mary! "I would like a shrine built on this hill", she tells him, and she instructs him to take her wish to the bishop. Juan Diego, a lowly peasant, protests that the bishop will pay no attention to him, but the Virgin says that she will protect him. Juan Diego visits the bishop three times, but only after he brings a sign from the Virgin, a bunch of roses that are miraculously blooming in December, does the bishop relent and agree to the Virgin's request. From then on, the image of the Virgin is imprinted on Juan Diego s rough cactus-fiber tilma, the cloak in which he carried the roses. Today, millions of pilgrims visit the shrine and pray before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tonya Engel's sweeping oil-and-encaustic illustrations capture 16th-century Mexican country and city landscapes with stunning clarity. An Author s Note about the origins of the legend and miracle is included.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Written by Francisco Serrano

Illustrated by Felipe Davalos

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most important religious icon in the Americas. This lavish pop-up tells her story and that of Juan Diego, the humble Mexican peasant to whom she appeared on a hill in Tepeyac. The Virgin tells Juan Diego that Tepeyac is the place where she would like her sacred house built, that she will love and help all who seek her there, and that he must relay this to the bishop. At first Juan Diego is not believed, and the bishop asks that he return with proof. Vivid pop-ups convey the anticipation when the Virgin tells him to fill his cloak with flowers and the thrill as Juan Diego presents the flowers to the bishop, revealing a beautiful image of the Virgin on his cloak.

Guadalupe: First Words / Primeras Palabras

Written by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein

Illustrated by Citlali Reyes

Lil' Libros baby board books uses a simple one word/one image per page format to introduce the littlest readers to first concepts such as numbers, colors, and body parts. Lil' Libros also introduces children to Latin American culture, history, and traditions!