Kusikiy A child from Taquile, Peru

When the Llama Constellation is missing from the sky, and drought is affecting the crops… Kusikiy flies with Condor to the highest snowed peak to ask the Apu, the Guardian Spirit Mountain for the secrets of the Rain

The story of a loving and adventurous child offers children and adults a multitude of opportunities to gain knowledge, to be entertained and be reminded that the world is formed by people who have different ways of thinking, and living. This is a story that allows children to identify with a child and his family from a foreign land, enhancing their understanding and empathy, which will extend to the significant groups in their community, and the wider multicultural world. 

It is a book that gives parents and educators a visual and appealing way to engage children in a dialogue about traditional cultures, the importance and meaning of community, sustainability and responsibility for our environment.

A story about a child's concern with CLIMATE CHANGE. A Book for children and adults who love stories about a child's who helps bring the Rain to his community, the ancient Peruvian Island of Taquile.

Born in a traditional Peruvian family, author Mercedes Cecilia celebrates her family’s hertiage in this book. Her great love is the island of Taquile. She has been living in the Catskill Mountains since 1980. Read more

Purchase the Book

Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru

Ebook on Apple iTunes
(This version includes the songs of Birds and the sounds of waves on Lake Titicaca.
Recorded at the entrance of Taquile)

Kindle books on Amazon.com.

I am hoping to print another limited edition soon.

Kusikiy A child from Taquile, Peru

“Taquile, Peru is a peaceful island. It is so quiet that you can hear the potatoes growing under the earth and the voices of mothers whispering Quechua songs to the babies on their backs. Quechua, the language of the people, sounds like the murmurs made by the wings of butterflies.”

Original illustrations and story by Mercedes Cecilia. Images and texts Copyright 2010 Mercedes Cecilia.

  • “A Book with a timely story, a child's concern for Global Climate…” ”Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru, is a heart-touching picture book about the life of Kusikiy, a child who is concern with the lack of rain in his village. The author portrays the traditions and culture of her heritage that promotes oral storytelling music, dance, its own rituals and mythologies. The book, Kusikiy A Child from Taquile, Peru, is a treasury highly recommended especially for Public Library Children's Collection with focus on international and multicultural studies.”

    Midwest Book Review, 2011

  • ”A Peruvian island in Lake Titicaca is the setting for this original myth about a boy who embarks on a crucial mission. When drought threatens the potato and quinoa crops of Taquile, Kusikiy flies on the back of a condor to make an offering to the APU, the Spirit of The Great Glacier... The story conveys Taquile’s sense of community and strong intergenerational ties. Mercedes Cecilia’s folk art paintings showcases the vibrancy of island traditions; images of intricately patterned handwoven textiles and knitted items and particularly striking. The last pages, Mercedes' Notes, offer additional information about Taquile's traditions, customs and lifestyles.” 

    – Publishers Weekly, 2012 

  • ”The story of Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru, celebrates our Peruvian Heritage, the wisdom of our ancestors,  and our oral traditions. The Taquile community's way of life, our interconnectedness with life, with Pachamama, the cosmos and all beings in Mother Earth.  Mercedes Cecilia's book shows our arts, the way we celebrate events, our sustainable  agricultural, our textiles, and the way we raise our children. Mercedes stayed with us every Summer since she was very young. UNESCO, named Taquile, Peru one of the world's Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage, an international  distinction destined to raise public awareness of the value of this heritage, which includes popular and traditional oral forms of expression, music and dance, rituals and mythologies, knowledge and practices concerning the universe, know-how linked to traditional crafts, as well as cultural spaces. Often vulnerable, this heritage, a repository of cultural diversity, is essential to the identity of communities and people.”  

     –Taquile Town Council, 2013

  • Curators' Choice 2010, Smithsonian Museum Curators' Choice

    Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru accepted in the collection ofthe Smithsonian American Indian Museum, Washington DC.

  • “What gives this book impact is the author's ability to share her ancestors traditions and awareness of our interdependence with Mother Earth and each other. Mercedes's story of Kusikiy, reminds us to continue in our search for solutions to climate Change. This book and its illustrations will be enjoy by readers of all ages.”

    – P.T. Toronto, Canada

  • “Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru is a book with a remarkable story. Mercedes Cecilia has created a story never heard before, a new myth. A myth to treasure the universal values of love for family, community and environment. Her story also shares the spiritual teachings of many nations.”

    – M. Cahill,  Albany, NY

  • “A second reading of this book, and a third, makes the actions in the story reach beyond themselves, like the circles on a pond. Kusikiy a child from Taquile, Peru is a  book to read, to share and to reread. This book will become a treasure part of the library of the heart.”

    – Dr. Christina Starobin, New York

  • “The story of Kusikiy, a Child from Taquile, Peru, illustrates the importance of living in harmony with our  environment. A story with an unexpected main character, delights readers and reinforces their ability to question today's ecological changes. The author reveals her native vision when she writes the dialogue between Kusikiy and the glacier, "...You are the Great Glacier, your river of snow forms our valleys and mountains...You are the keeper of our homeland."  

    – Dr. Manuel Villanueva MD , NY

  • “The story of Kusikiy is beautifully written and illustrated by Mercedes Cecilia's, every page vibrates with warmth, color and magic. This books is beautiful !  I highly recommend this book for everyone!  Children, parents and their teachers.”

    – Joy Hammond, California