Get to reading—and dancing! March is Music in Our Schools Month! Most Latina mamis don’t have to be convinced about the importance of music in our family’s lives, but did you know that researchers have found direct links between music education and academic achievement? Music students have been consistently found to perform better on standardized […]
On March 9 and 10, I will be participating in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Writers Days Conference in Los Angeles, CA, where—in my role as literary agent—I will be discussing some of the challenges and opportunities that exist for diverse writers and illustrators in today’s publishing environment, with a particular […]
Guadalupe Garcia McCall is on a winning streak and quickly becoming a Latina author to watch—and read. In 2012, her debut young adult novel, Under the Mesquite (Lee & Low), won the Pura Belpré Medal and was named a Morris Award finalist. The novel in verse narrates the story of Lupita, a budding actor and […]
Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the […]
It’s award season, and while many of us are glued to our TV screens to find out who’s won a Golden Globe or been nominated for an Oscar, let’s remember that this is also book award season. From the Caldecott, to the Newbery, to the Pura Belpré Awards, the American Library Association (ALA) is about […]
Young adult novelist Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s latest book, Summer of the Mariposas (Tu Books), is a retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey with a decidedly Latino twist. We had a chance to chat with McCall, whose debut young adult novel, Under the Mesquite (Lee & Low), won the coveted 2012 Pura Belpré Award and was named […]
As the holidays draw to a close and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles run to and fro searching for a toy, video game, or gadget that will bring a special smile to the faces of the children in their lives, let’s all agree on one thing: to stop at our local bookstore or go online […]
As a mami, Latina, and book publishing professional, I am positively thrilled to participate in the launch Mamiverse Books, and thankful to the fantastic Mamiverse team for their wholehearted cooperation and support for the effort. During my 15 years in publishing, I have participated on many panels and done a number of interviews on the […]
This is how August Pullman, the main character in R.J. Palacio’s best-selling middle grade novel WONDER, describes himself on the first page of the book: “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse….” You see, August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that has made his parents very protective […]