A story about getting lost might seem to be only about finding the way home. Yet in Tito the Tocororo: A Song Across Cuba, Migdrei Fernandez gives Tito another important task along the way: noticing when someone else needs help. Even while he misses his family and faces an uncertain journey, Tito learns to respond with generosity. These acts of kindness become some of the clearest signs of his growing courage.
Tito did not plan to become a traveler. He followed a golden butterfly through the forest, wandered too far, and suddenly found himself alone. He wants to return to the royal palms where his mamá and papá live. At first, much of his attention is understandably focused on that goal. He calls for his family, listens for another Tocororo, and searches unfamiliar places for a clue. As time passes, however, he begins to notice the needs of creatures around him.
One of those creatures is a young tree frog who has lost its family after a rainstorm. Tito understands the feeling of separation, so he helps the frog find its way home. This moment invites empathy: having experienced fear himself, Tito can recognize it in another. He does not need special tools or remarkable powers. He simply gives his time and attention to someone facing a problem he understands.
Another encounter takes place when a woodpecker cannot find food. Tito shares berries. The action is simple enough for young children to appreciate immediately. Sharing does not have to be dramatic to matter. Later, when rabbits face danger, Tito warns them. In each scene, he chooses to act for another creature’s benefit, even though he has worries of his own. The story presents kindness as a series of decisions available in ordinary moments.
These scenes are especially useful for conversations after reading. Families might ask what the frog felt, why the woodpecker needed help, or how the rabbits benefited from Tito’s warning. Children can imagine small examples from their own lives: including someone in a game, sharing supplies, checking on a worried friend, or speaking up when someone needs assistance. The goal is not to turn Tito into a perfect hero. It is to show that thoughtful choices can build trust and connection.
The manuscript makes the connection explicit: with every act of kindness, Tito grows stronger. This is not strength measured by the speed of his wings or the distance he has traveled. It is the confidence that comes from being capable of helping. In the Sierra Maestra Mountains, he realizes that although he is still lost, he is no longer afraid. His courage has developed through experience, friendship, and concern for others.
By the time Tito meets Lucia and begins the final part of his search for home, he has become more than the excited young bird who chased a butterfly. He has learned to care for others while caring for himself. That is a gentle message children can carry beyond the book: kindness is not something to save for a perfect day. It can be practiced even when life feels uncertain, and it may help us become braver along the way.