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Marco, Pablo, & Olivia Volume One: New School
Marco, Pablo, and Olivia: New School takes readers on a captivating journey as three siblings adapt to life in a new coastal town after their father’s promotion relocates them from their beloved mountain home in Ecuador. This heartwarming tale is a testament to family bonds and the resilience of young hearts facing unfamiliar challenges.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Ana Cortes’ writing and illustrations vividly capture the city’s culture, morals, and enchanting allure, making it accessible and engaging for young readers, even those who have never visited. Through the siblings’ adventures, Cortes imparts valuable life lessons, portraying them as role models for children in handling conflicts and adapting to new circumstances. Beyond the endearing trio of Marco, Pablo, and Olivia, Cortes introduces a captivating array of supporting characters, from loyal friends to intriguing acquaintances and the occasional bullies and troublemakers. Each character is thoughtfully crafted, adding depth and interest to the story. The interactions within the Costa family are equally charming, infusing the narrative with humor and warmth.
The children’s graphic novel Marco, Pablo, and Olivia: New School maintains a lighthearted tone, and it is a comic that carries a profound message about the enduring importance of family, friendship, and personal growth for young readers. Cortes’ storytelling prowess shines through, making this graphic novel an exceptional choice for young children, offering them a delightful adventure while instilling valuable life lessons.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B0C8VHBWNV
The Love And Support Between Siblings
Marco, Pablo, & Olivia Volume One follows the Costa sibling’s as they work together to help Marco complete tryouts and make it onto the team. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When brainstorming the idea for Marco, Pablo, & Olivia, I took a lot of inspiration from my trips to Ecuador as a kid. Before we went into lockdown from COVID-19, I used to fly to Ecuador every other year to visit my grandparents and relatives from my dad’s side of the family. I once went to secondary school as a foreign exchange student for a month. Everything in Ecuador is different than what I grew up with in America, but I was fascinated by Ecuador’s beautiful culture. Being there made me realize, “how come no one has made a movie or written a book about Ecuador? There’s so much about Ecuador that’s worth sharing!” That’s when I knew I wanted to write a middle-grade graphic novel series set in Ecuador. Representation matters!
I enjoyed the vibrant art in this book. What was the art illustration process like in bringing this story to life?
After I finished writing the script in 2019, the first thing that came to mind was drawing the illustrations on my computer. I didn’t want to make the comic book using the traditional method of drawing and ink on physical paper. I wanted to make my comic pages on my Huion tablet because it would save me a lot of paper and art supplies, and I always loved digital art. I drew the rough sketches on the tablet, inked the pages, and hired a freelance artist to handle the coloring process. It was challenging to direct a person because I had never hired someone, and I was trying to figure out how I wanted the coloring to look. Plus, I was only 20 years old at that time. Despite the challenging process, I learned that making a comic book requires hard work, effort, and good teamwork. All the diligence was worth bringing my book to life!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book series?
When writing the script for the first book, I didn’t think much about the story’s theme. I had so much fun writing it; I didn’t think about what was missing from my book. Once I learned about writing a theme from a creative writing course, I knew I had to think about the message for Futbol Tryouts, even if it’s only 41 pages long. I reread the script and couldn’t figure out the theme, so I gave the script to my dad and aunt for feedback. My aunt explained that the book already had a clear theme about perseverance and that I was overthinking it. Since Fútbol tryouts was the first book, I knew I had to write about universal themes in each book, but I also wanted the central theme for the entire series, which was the love and support between siblings.
What can readers expect in volume two of your children’s book series?
In Fútbol Tryouts, the readers learn that the Costa siblings moved to Guayaquil from Loja. The readers get to see the Costa’s new life on the coast, but they haven’t seen their previous life in the mountains of Ecuador. The next book for Marco, Pablo, & Olivia will feature the Costa siblings again, but the readers will look into their past life in Loja. It will also feature a new character, and I hope she will warm the reader’s hearts.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
The Costa sibling’s lives turn into a wild ride when they make new friends, set off on adventures, celebrate traditions, deal with rivals, embark on journeys, and experience things they never thought they could have experienced before.
Marco, Pablo, & Olivia is a crafted book filled with nine stand-alone mini-stories that features the beautiful culture of Ecuador, morality, and magic!
Story One
The Costas: Marco, Pablo, Olivia, and their parents move into their new house in Guayaquil, Ecuador. As the three siblings explore their new neighborhood, Marco discovers there is a tryout for a soccer team. Marco is eager to try out, and Pablo and Olivia are there to cheer for him. But Marco will have to face a prejudiced teenager named, Víctor, who is also trying out for the team.
Marco Pablo & Olivia Story One Fútbol Tryouts
It’s not easy moving to a new neighborhood, especially at a young age. It can cause a lot of stress and worry. Although, it’s a lot easier when you have your siblings by your side. Marco Pablo & Olivia Fútbol Tryouts, by Ana Cortes follows an Ecuadorian family, moving into a new city. When the three siblings, Marco Olivia and Pablo, see the inside of their new house, they begin to grow excited at the idea of decorating their own rooms. As they look around, their mom brings them the news that there is a fútbol field nearby! Marco immediately wants to take his siblings to go see it, and when they go they discover that there are soccer tryouts coming up. But, when they talk to the team, they find that one member doesn’t want Marco on the team. He insults him and tries to convince him not to come to tryouts, but Marco is determined. Now, the siblings are left with the task of helping Marco complete the tryouts and making it onto the team!
Not only does this story show readers Ecuadorian culture, but it also covers multiple other important lessons for children to learn. The author writes about moving into a new city, which everyone knows can be difficult and worrying. The author brings to light that moving can also bring positivity and new opportunities.
The story also covers the topic of bullying very well as it shows how to stop a bully, and how to continue to follow your dreams, despite what they may say. It’s important to stay true to yourself and continue to do what makes you happy.
The comic book style of this story really brings it to life as it is full of color and all the characters are emotive. The scenery is drawn with a lot of detail, helping the reader to immerse themselves in the scenes. Overall, the story delivers an incredible message while still entertaining the audience with wonderful writing and drawings.
Marco Pablo & Olivia Fútbol Tryouts, by Ana Cortes is entertaining while also being educational. It teaches children how to balance a new life, and get through any barriers they may run into. The illustrations are drawn with an amazing amount of skill and detail, making the book captivating. This charming children’s book is useful for any child to have, so they can understand that these challenges are only temporary, and there’s always a way to get through.
ASIN: B09QQ2QC9M
LITERARY TITAN 