Fans of Alison Lester and Kitty Crowther will delight in this book of five interconnected tales, translated from Spanish, that take place in the town green, where all of the animal characters live and interact. Think Cornbread and Poppy for the younger set. Encourages visual literacy: While the illustrations aren't in panels, they are comprised of mini comic-like scenes that help tell the story. Established platform: Argentinian creator Mariana Ruiz Johnson has 41.7K instagram followers and the most recent English translated titles that she illustrated received a starred review from Kirkus (Ways to Make Friends) and state awards ( Run, Little Chaski! ). 5 stories in 1: Each of the stories in this book feels complete, and young readers will enjoy seeing the characters and places overlap from one tale to another. Celebrates community: Something is always happening in the Villa Verde. Another strong Argentinian voice: Fans of fellow Argentinian illustrators Decur and Liniers will love Ruiz's work.