Ashimpa: The Mysterious Word

Ages 3 to 7

From renowned Portuguese author and illustrator Catarina Sobral, Ashimpa is the story of a word that takes on a life of its own, leading young readers through the hilariously ashimpish life and grammar of a mysterious word.One day, a researcher makes an important discovery. A mysterious word buried in an old dictionary: ASHIMPAQuickly the news spreads. Everyone wants to use the new word, but no one knows what it means or even what part of speech it belongs to. A 137-year-old is certain that it’s a verb: people ashimped and would always ashimp. A linguist is convinced it’s a noun. Soon there would be people who claimed to have seen live ashimpas—and in color. “They still exist abroad. They’re green!”

About the Author

Born in 1985 in Portugal, Catarina Sobral is an illustrator and animation film director. Her books have been published in many countries and her work is a regular presence in editorial illustration, album covers, posters, and exhibitions worldwide. Her picture books have won prizes such as the International Award for Illustration at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Best Picture Book by the International Comics Festival Amadora BD or Best Children’s Book by the Portuguese Authors’ Society.