Alika from Reycraft Books Tells a Tale of One Family’s Hardship and Hope
The picture book focuses on a littlegirl and her mother enduring great loss and turmoil, and a promise that just might change their lives.
New Rochelle, NY, May. 30, 2023—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books has teamed up with author and illustrator Paco Ortega to produce Alika, a powerful, beautifully illustrated story about a girl who manages to dream about a brighter future in the wake of catastrophic loss and suffering.
Published on March 7, 2023, the book introduces young Alika, who falls asleep in her mother’s arms feeling happy for a change. Things have been difficult for them, compounded by the fact that Alika herself has been sick of late, but her mother promises her a big surprise. In her dreams, Alika envisions wondrous possibilities, such as seeing old friends, hearing her grandmother’s voice, and simply having enough water to drink. Perhaps, she thinks, the surprise is the start of a new and easier life.
In its review, Kirkus described Alika as “a subtly told, emotional immigrant narrative.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR:
Paco Ortega was born in Seville, Spain, but has lived practically all his life in Morón de la Frontera. He graduated in Fine Arts from the University of Seville. Since 2004, he has been working as a graphic designer. Ortega’s first illustrated book, El niño y el cofre, was published in 2016. As an author and illustrator, or solely as an illustrator, he has published nearly a dozen illustrated books with various publishers.
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.