At the Palace Gates by Helen Rand Parish
Paco, a Peruvian orphan from the hill country, ventures to Lima and is drawn to a pair of vicunas that graze the lawn at the presidential palace.
A lovely book for kids around eight years or older due to content. The murder of Don Francisco Pizarro that occurred in 1541 is described in (a little too much) detail (for a younger kid). But the story is wonderful, and it’s a great learning experience. Not only does the reader learn about Peru and Lima in particular, but also about courage, resourcefulness and the value of friends.
I just adore the illustrations!
This book can be difficult to find. Luckily our local library had a copy, and I have found some copies at Alibris.