I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon
I'll Be the Moon

Phillip D. Cortez

I'll Be the Moon

A Migrant Child's Story
$18.95
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About the Book

2024 INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARD FINALIST FOR MOST INSPIRATIONAL CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

"Bold hope is the theme of this picture book." —Foreword Reviews

In her journey North, a child is shepherded by the moon as she aims to reunite with her father across the border. With vivid and picturesque words by Phillip D. Cortez and imaginative illustrations by Mafs Rodríguez Alpide, I'll Be the Moon shows how la luna brings light to the darkness and guides us to those we love.

PRAISE FOR I’LL BE THE MOON
"Cortez's simple but rich telling of a child's view of crossing the desert brilliantly engages all of the senses as you follow the desert path with the moon as a familiar guide." —Rebecca Calderon, Ysleta ISD (TX) Library & Innovative Learning Department

"This is a great children’s book to teach imagery and figurative language with!" —Meg Libertucci, Little Free Library steward (NY)

Awards and Press

Calvin Crosby

co-owner of The King's English and Brain Food Books

Phillip D. Cortez has given voice to a story most of us cannot even fathom. His gracious words convey the depth and strength of the human spirit.

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Rebecca Calderon

Ysleta ISD (TX) Library & Innovative Learning Department

Cortez's simple but rich telling of a child's view of crossing the desert brilliantly engages all of the senses as you follow the desert path with the moon as a familiar guide.

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Veronica Perez

Patlan Elementary Librarian

I can't wait to share this heartwarming and beautifully written story with my students!

Meg Libertucci

Little Free Library steward (NY)

This is a great children’s book to teach imagery and figurative language with!

Olga Elbancol

2023 Librarian of the Year at Socorro ISD (Texas)

The story is a relatable tale of a child , like many around the world, who wish for nothing more than to be a family under the moon again.

Martina Ultras

Las Vegas NV

A lovely story about dreams, what it’s like to leave everything behind and letting the moon guide you home.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James

author of Mona at Sea and The Bullet Swallower

Poetic and moving, I’ll Be The Moon is the rare bedtime story that begins only as the book ends.

Joe Thornton

Book Pusher & Educator

This is a story of courage, dreams, change, and moving forward.

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Sarai Ramos

author of Andie’s Pit

A beautiful and touching read.

Annette Campos

4th Grade Dual Language Teacher

Great story to share with students in a border town. Plus beautiful illustrations!

Meet the Author

Phillip D. Cortez became fascinated with books and stories early in his life. It wasn’t long before he wanted to write his own stories. He’s the writer of two other children’s books: Night Rhythms (2011) and When I Close My Eyes (2013). Cortez still loves to read and, with his wife, Patty, is now fascinated by the many stories told by their four children: Ivan, Cameron, Ava, and Zoe. He lives in El Paso, Texas, with his family.

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Meet the Illustrator

Mafs Rodríguez Alpide is a designer who lives in Mexico City. She was interested in the cultural and artistic world from a very young age. With a very active imagination and a lot of hard work, she went from doodling in her free time to a degree in Illustration at the School of Arts and Design at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Currently, she is working on creating new characters and imagining new worlds daily to reach her dreams.

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