What do a shoe-obsessed duck, a famous Salvadoran artist, and an opinionated flamingo have in common? They are all topics explored in delightful board books for babies and toddlers, written and/or illustrated by these talented writers and artists:
Mariana Galvez: Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and raised in Los Angeles, she has loved books, art, and libraries from an early age. The author and illustrator of Little Astrology Catrinas: A Bilingual Book of Zodiac Signs, Mi Ofrenda, and My Pet Flamingo, she loves to garden, cook, and chase after her dog and cat.
Cynthia Gonzalez: Born in El Salvador and raised in South Los Angeles, she is the author of The Life of/La Vida de Llort and the translator of over ten other children's books. She enjoys watching sci-fi movies and eating rocky road ice cream in her spare time.
Juan Moreno: A Mexican American born and raised in Compton, CA, where he spent his childhood playing soccer with his friends, reading books, and writing poetry. The author of El Pato y Sus Zapatos, his stories capture bonding moments between parents and children.
The Los Angeles Libros Festival theme—Read, Dream and Celebrate…en dos idiomas—resonates with all three of these board book creators. Though Moreno grew up speaking Spanish at home and English at school, he didn't experience many bilingual children's books. "With my book about colors and individuality, I feel that I am giving that opportunity to another child yearning to learn English and Spanish in a fun and interactive way." Gonzalez grew up bilingual as well. She says that writing a bilingual book about the national artist of El Salvador is an honor, allowing children "to learn about the appreciation and love for art, the colorful cultures that exist in this world, and they get to celebrate as they learn in two languages." Galvez adds, "I want the pages [of my books] to feel like home and the stories to feel like a hug."
Our authors have plenty of good advice for writers and artists, young and old, who long to create a children's book. Galvez assures us that "it's okay to get messy with a story." Gonzalez suggests writing down every idea and thought, adding that "there's no idea too small or unattainable." And Moreno says the most important thing is simply to "enjoy the process." Comforting advice indeed!
Mariana Galvez, Cynthia Gonzalez, and Juan Moreno will be three featured authors and illustrators at the Los Angeles Libros Festival, a free bilingual book festival for the whole family celebrating stories and music from Latin America and the United States. L.A. Libros Fest will be streamed live on YouTube on Friday, September 29, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The Festival will be in-person at Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
