Julia + Arturo = True

Gunilla Lundgren, Julia Hinshaw-Ryberg & Joanna Hellgren

As a young child, Julia lives in a village in the Guatemalan rainforest, where wild flocks of parrots thrive among the tall treetops. She is fascinated by these magical birds. Parrots can live to be nearly a hundred years old, and if they choose to give their heart to someone, they remain a friend for life.

One day, a little parrot sits in the tree next to the family’s house, watching her. It’s Arturo, the most beautiful bird she has ever seen. Julia feeds him fruit and decides to try to become his friend.

Julia + Arturo is a heartwarming story that spans over decades and continents. When Julia and her family eventually leave the village in Guatemala to move back to the United States, Arturo flies after the fully loaded truck. No border guards can stop him! Later in life, when she gets married and moves to Sweden, Arturo comes along.

Joanna Hellgren is an illustrator and cartoonist. She was awarded the Snowball – Swedish Picture Book of the Year (2015) and has been nominated for the August Prize three times.

Julia Hinshaw-Ryberg is an author, educator, chamber musician – and Arturo’s best friend. Julia + Arturo is based on her memories and life.

Gunilla Lundgren is an author and the initiator of the acclaimed Nobel in Rinkeby project. She has received numerous awards for her deeply committed work promoting reading and diversity, most recently a special recognition from the Swedish Academy (2024). She has written over sixty books, often in close collaboration with children and youth in Rinkeby, and her work has been translated into ten languages.

Books by the illustrator