The Beginning of All Things - (Legendarios) by Karla Arenas Valenti

About the Book

Nine-year-old twins Emma and Martin travel into a book of legends to the beginning of time with the giant Ometecuhtli, but soon must figure out how to activate the portal home when nothing yet exists.

Book Synopsis

Twins Emma and Martín get stuck at the beginning of time in this second book in the Legendarios chapter book series that's Magic Tree House meets Heroes in Training!

Emma and Martín are settling into their new home in Chicago and getting ready to start at their new school. When they learn they'll be in separate classes for the first time, they aren't sure they can face so much change alone. But when life gets stressful, the siblings now have the perfect escape--into the book of legends!

They enter the creation story of when the giant Ometecuhtli made the world. As soon as they arrive, they realize they have a major problem: it takes a magical object to activate Emma's necklace and open the portal home, but how can they find one when nothing exists yet?

Review Quotes

"This second installment of Emma and Martín's 'Legendarios' series reads like ancient Mexican myths mixed with Mary Pope Osborne's beloved "Magic Tree House" series. . . . This action-packed series is a must-buy"--School Library Journal, starred review "09/20/24"

About the Author

Karla Arenas Valenti grew up in Mexico, a land of great myths and many legends. From a very young age, she loved getting lost in stories (and, in fact, she considers herself the very first Legendario). As a grown-up, she still loves getting lost in stories and is now creating adventures for readers to do the same. In addition to chapter books, Karla is the author of many picture books and middle grade novels. She currently lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, three kids, two cats, and hundreds of books.

Vanessa Morales is a Mexican illustrator, kid lit artist, and concept artist with a deep love for portraying nature, fantasy, and daily life with a touch of magic. She has been working in different fields of illustration for almost ten years.