| Manuelita la tortuga | |
| Type: | song |
| Artist: | Leda y María |
| Album: | Doña Disparate y Bambuco |
| Released: | 1962 |
| Length: | 4:10 |
| Label: | Disco Plin |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Producer: | María Herminia Avellaneda[1] |
"Manuelita la tortuga" (pronounced as /es/; 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 EP Doña 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.
In its native country it is a well-known children's song.[3]
In 1997, Walsh released the children's book Manuelita ¿Dónde vas?, which expanded the story of the character.[4] 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.