As some of you who followed our previous version of Repeating Islands know, we are fans of Margarita Engle’s books for children and young adults… and, of course, big fans of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam’s work [see our previous post, one of many on the artist, Wifredo Lam-major retrospective at MoMA.] Therefore, we were excited to hear about her forthcoming Wifredo’s Jungle: The Power of Wifredo Lam’s Art (A Picture Book Biography), illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. The book will be released by Abrams Books for Young Readers on August 25, 2026. See author’s and illustrator’s bios below.
Description: Newbery Honor and Pura Belpré Medal Winner Margarita Engle and New York Times bestselling illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara bring to light the life of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, who portrayed the enduring Afro Cuban spirit culture through his art
In a village on the tropical island of Cuba, a boy named Wifredo Lam loved to draw his surroundings—hot blue air, cool green leaves, and brilliant flowers.
As he grew older, Lam paid tribute to his Cuban, West African, and Chinese heritage through his art, which brought dignity and respect to Cuba’s rich mix of cultures. Inspired by and in contact with some of the most renowned artists of the early 20th century, such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and André Breton, Lam blended European cubism and surrealism with multicultural influences to create his own unique style, culminating in the creation of his masterpiece La Jungla (The Jungle).
From Margarita Engle, a Newbery Honor Winner and a former Young People’s Poet Laureate, and Jacqueline Alcántara, a New York Times bestselling illustrator, Wifredo’s Jungle introduces young readers to the trailblazing life and work of Wifredo Lam.
Back matter includes: more information about the life of Lam and where to see his works; a glossary; and a bibliography.
Margarita Engle is the Cuban American author of many verse novels, including Wild Dreamers, a Pura Belpré Honor Book that was also long listed for the National Book Award. Wings in the Wild received an International Latino Book Award Gold Medal, and The Surrender Tree received a Newbery Honor. Engle served as the national Young People’s Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019. She was born in Los Angeles but developed a deep attachment to her mother’s Cuban homeland during childhood summers with relatives on the island. She lives in Central California.
Jacqueline Alcántara has illustrated several widely acclaimed picture books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Just Shine! by Sonia Sotomayor. She is the author and illustrator of Tíos and Primos, which received two starred reviews. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and been named Best Books of the Year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, and The Horn Book, among others. She lives in Chicago with her family.
Wifredo’s Jungle: The Power of Wifredo Lam’s Art (A Picture Book Biography)
Illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara
ISBN: 9781419734205
Publication Date: August 25, 2026
For more information, see https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/wifredos-jungle_9781419734205/
For more on the illustrator, visit https://jacquelinealcantara.com/about
As some of you who followed our previous version of Repeating Islands know, we are fans of Margarita Engle’s books for children and young adults… and, of course, big fans of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam’s work [see our previous post, one of many on the artist, Wifredo Lam-major retrospective at MoMA.] Therefore, we were excited
