"Manuelita la tortuga" (pronounced[ma.nwe.ˈli.talatoɾ.ˈtu.ɣa]; Spanish for "Manuelita the turtle") is a children's song by Argentine writer and musician María Elena Walsh, first recorded by Leda y María—her duo with Leda Valladares—and included in their 1962 EPDoña Disparate y Bambuco.[1][2] It tells the story of a female turtle from the rural town of Pehuajó, who travels to Paris to undergo beauty treatments after falling in love.[3]
In its native country it is a well-known children's song.[4]
In 1997, Walsh released the children's bookManuelita ¿Dónde vas?, which expanded the story of the character.[3] The 1999 animation film Manuelita was adapted from the song.[5]
A French version of the song was written and made famous by Argentine singer Jairo.
^Doña Disparate y Bambuco (7-inch record). Leda y María. Argentina: Discos Plin. 103.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
