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Run, Little Chaski!

An Inka Trail Adventure

Grouped product items
Paperback ISBN: 9781646861651 £7.99 In stock	- +

Written by Mariana Llanos

Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson

In this tale set in the ancient Inka (sometimes spelled Inca) empire, Little Chaski has a big job: he is the Inka King’s newest royal messenger. On his first day delivering messages he stops to help several creatures in need along the way, causing him to nearly miss his sunset deadline. But the kindness he bestowed on these animals winds up helping him in surprising ways. Descriptive language and bold illustrations give readers insight into Little Chaski’s nervousness and excitement as he runs the Inka Trail, working earnestly to fulfill the responsibilities of his new role.

Key Selling Points:

SOUTH AMERICAN AUTHOR: Set in ancient South America, this tale is written by Peruvian-born author Mariana Llanos.
CULTURAL AWARENESS: Offers an age-appropriate and engaging introduction to ancient Inka (sometimes spelled Inca) civilization and features an indigenous hero.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: The main character stops along the way to help others, even though being late may cost him his job. In the end, his kindness is recognized and rewarded.
EDUCATIONAL ENDNOTES: Endnotes include a glossary of Quechua words and provide information about the Inka Empire, Chaskis (messengers) and the Inka Trail.
SPANISH: Also available in a Spanish language edition.

More Details

Product Dimensions: 247 x 255 mm
Page Count: 32 pages
Age Range: Ages 3-7 years

Awards & Accolades

Oklahoma Book Award, 2022
20 Best Books by Latinx Authors You’ll Want to Read Right Now, Reader’s Digest, 2021
29 Picture Books to Celebrate the Latinx Experience, The School Library Journal, 2021
Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids 2021: Picture Books
Library of Congress Great Reads Selection, 2022
Bank Street Children’s Books Committee’s Best Books of 2021

★ ‘‘An appealing introduction to an important culture largely overlooked in children’s literature in the United States’’ – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“If you want something set during the Incan Empire, finding the right book can be hard. This one might fill such a gap” – Betsy Bird, Librarian, @FuseEight

“Llanos shares her passion for Peruvian stories in this vibrant tale, set in an Inka kingdom, that explores accountability and kindness . . . Johnson's bold illustrations, in saturated colors and blocky shapes, add to the lively atmosphere, with plenty of historical and cultural touches nicely incorporated into the scenes” – Booklist

★ “Beautiful illustrations inspired by Peruvian folk art fill each page, bringing to life the beauty of the Inka culture . . . An excellent addition to picture book collections, providing a wonderful introduction to and a celebration of the Inka that will pull readers in from the start” – The School Library Journal, starred review

“Children will enjoy the action-packed story . . . This entertaining and informative book would be a good choice for elementary or public library collections. Libraries wanting to grow their multicultural collection should purchase” – School Library Connection

About the Contributors

Written by - Mariana Llanos

Mariana Llanos is a Peruvian-born writer of children’s literature. Her picture book ‘Run, Little Chaski!’ won the 2022 Oklahoma Book Award and was listed among Bank Street’s Best Books of 2021. The Spanish edition, ‘¡Corre, Pequeño Chaski!’, was a 2022 Alma Flor Ada Award winner and a Premio Campoy-Ada Honorable Mention. Mariana is a SCBWI member and currently serves as the Inclusion and Diversity Chair for their Oklahoma Chapter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking, spending time with her children, and visiting schools to ignite the love for reading.

Illustrated by - Mariana Ruiz Johnson

Mariana Ruiz Johnson is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. She likes to explore the narrative power of illustration and the relationship between images and words. Using vibrant palettes and different patterns and textures, she combines traditional techniques and digital media. Mariana lives in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina with her husband and two children.