"Manuelita la tortuga" (; Spanish for "Manuelita the turtle") is a children's song by Argentine writer and musician MarÃÂa Elena Walsh, first recorded by Leda y MarÃÂaâÂÂher duo with Leda ValladaresâÂÂand included in their 1962 EP Doña Disparate y Bambuco. 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.
In 1997, Walsh released the children's book Manuelita ÿDónde vas?, which expanded the story of the character. The 1999 animation film Manuelita was adapted from the song.
A French version of the song was written and made famous by Argentine singer Jairo.