The Coquíes Still Sing: A Story of Home, Hope, and Rebuilding

Ages 4 to 8

A powerful story about home, community, and hope, inspired by the rebuilding of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017, written by debut author Karina González and illustrated by Krystal Quiles.

Co-quí, co-quí! The coquí frogs sing to Elena from her family’s beloved mango tree—their calls so familiar that they might as well be singing, “You are home, you are safe.” But home is suddenly not safe when a hurricane threatens to destroy everything that Elena knows.

As time passes, Elena, alongside her community, begins to rebuild her home, planting seeds of hope along the way. When the sounds of the coquíes gradually return, they reflect the resilience and strength of Elena, her family, and her fellow Puerto Ricans.

About the Author

Karina Nicole González spent her childhood between New Jersey and Puerto Rico. She is an educator and speech-language pathologist for NYC public schools, where Karina uses storytelling as a tool for language development with her elementary school students. Karina lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Aaron.

Krystal Quiles has been drawing in her room since she could hold a pencil. She studied illustration and fine arts at Pratt Institute, and holds a BFA in Communication Design. Originally from the Bronx, Krystal works as a Freelance Illustrator in Brooklyn, where she creates pieces that are lively, fun, and dimensional while embracing what it is to be a girl. krystalquiles.com