Telegramas al Cielo: La infancia de San Óscar Arnulfo Romero/ Telegrams to Heaven: The childhood of Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero

Written by René Colato Laínez

Illustrated by Pixote Hunt 

Luna’s Press Books

3790 Mission St

San Francisco, California, 94110

(415) 260-749

www.lunaspress.com

I am happy to present a new printing of Telegramas al cielo/ Telegrams to Heaven. In this new printing, it is included a timeline of the life of Saint Romero. Probably you know about Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the saint and archbishop, who spoke for his people during the civil war in El Salvador. In Telegrams to Heaven, you will discover Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the boy, who has a dream to accomplish.  As a Salvadoran, it is an honor to present the childhood of Oscar Arnulfo Romero to our niños. They also have dreams to accomplish.

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Telegrams to Heaven recounts the moving childhood of Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, who from an early age discovers the candor, light and power of the word, which he uses to pray and to write poetry, sending telegrams to heaven from his heart. René Colato Lainez, the renowned Salvadoran writer, has written a touching story about the great Salvadoran prophet who dreamed from his childhood of being a priest, and became not only a priest, but also a bishop, an archbishop, a monsignor, a blessed, a saint, and the great orator of his country. His word remains, for the Salvadoran people and the world — a prayer, a poem, a sweet telegram that Saint Romero continues to send in the name of his people to the heart of heaven. The colorful, modern illustrations of Pixote Hunt make us reflect with deep tenderness, showing us the innocence of the great Saint Romero as a young child.

Telegramas al Cielo narra la conmovedora niñez de San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, quien desde muy temprana edad descubre la candidez, la luz y la fuerza de la palabra, la cual utiliza para rezar y escribir poesía, para desde su corazón enviar telegramas al cielo. El afamado escritor salvadoreño, René Colato Laínez, ha escrito una enternecedora historia del gran profeta salvadoreño que soñó desde su infancia con ser sacerdote y no solo lo fue, sino que también se convirtió en obispo, arzobispo, monseñor, beato, santo y el gran orador de su país. Su palabra permanece entre el pueblo salvadoreño y el mundo: como un rezo, como un poema, como un dulce telegrama que San Romero sigue enviando, en nombre de su pueblo, al corazón del cielo. Las modernas y coloridas ilustraciones de Pixote Hunt, nos hacen reflexionar con profunda ternura, al mostrarnos la inocencia del pequeño gran San Romero.

Review

A touching introduction to the life and legacy of one of Central America's most beloved religious figures and a strong addition to any juvenile nonfiction collection.  —Natalie Romano, Denver Public Library, School Library Journal

Colato Laínez’s (¡Vámonos! Let’s Go!, 2016, etc.) story is straightforward and inspiring. He injects sufficient details into the heartwarming tale without slowing the narrative’s momentum. “When he wrote poems, his eyes would shine like stars. He read them in his best melodic voice, gesturing with his arms,” the author writes. The skillful illustrations by Hunt (Zhakanaka the Word, 2006) evoke Disney animation and add visual vibrancy to the story. An engaging tale of a boy’s spiritual awakening. —Kirkus Reviews