Add a Comment

Add a Comment

My first American Library Association conference and the beautiful ceremony for the Pura Belpré was amazing  (and a little overwhelming). Here are pictures, and a little bit from my acceptance Speech.

"To conclude, I just want to thank everyone that has made this possible.

First, I’d like to thank the Committee for the Honor. A special thank you to Armando and everyone in Redwood City for their support. Next, I’d like to thank Kate Farrell, my editor, for her input and collaboration on the book. Kate’s invaluable input added that extra magic and joy to the book. I’d also like to thank Patrick Collins for meeting with me when I was a green and unknown illustrator. And of course, I’d also like to thank you everyone at Henry Holt who helped with the book.

I’d also like to thank my agent Linda Pratt for seeing the potential in me and for all her help over the years.

Lastly, my friends for their support, my students who allow, me test my material on them, and finally my family especially my mom who is here today. Thank you. "

Add a Comment

Add a Comment

With some outside assistance, I've been working on packets to mail out promoting Knit Together (Dial January 2015). 

Add a Comment

Here are a few finishes from the Sonia Sotomayor book I've been working on. Also in other news, I'm going to be attending the American Library Association Conference in just a few weeks to receive the Pura Belpre Honor. In addition, I just signed on to illustrate an adorable new book with Roaring Brook press. Should be fun!

Add a Comment

A little over six months before my next book baby comes out. (Dial Books January 2015).

Add a Comment

Here are a few thumbnails/sketches for the new Sonia Sotomayor book (Bloomsbury) I'm working on. It's got a super tight turnaround, but I'm having a great deal of fun with the sketches and researching this fascinating woman.

Add a Comment

Every semester, I take my character design for Children's Book Class to the Zoo. It's always a fun, relaxing day. Here are a few sketches from that day. 

Add a Comment

The wonderful people at Redwood Library have put together a poster for the upcoming speaking engagements. I'll also be presenting at Redwood Library on May 4th at 1pm. More details about that soon.

Add a Comment

Here are a few finishes from the Candlewick book I've been working on. I'm just a few weeks away from finishing all the book.

Also I'm about to start a new project with Bloomsbury about Sonia Sotomayor. Should be a busy spring.

Add a Comment

Snuck another drawing in while I was teaching. 

Add a Comment

These are recent samples I did for a publisher. Had so much fun working on these!

Add a Comment

It's been awhile since I've been able to post sketches from the Character Design Class I teach. Here are a few from the past few weeks.

Add a Comment

Another illustration for one of my favorite clients, College of Charleston Magazine. Also a sneak peek at the final artwork for the Candlewick book I'm illustrating.

Add a Comment

Exciting! I just got my first round of proofs for Knit Together (January 2015). Here's a sneak peek.

 Also I was featured in a few interviews. First, in a recent issue of Academy of Art University newspaper. Second a wonderful blog devoted to Children's Books called The Children's Book Review. 
Thanks to Bianca Schulze for the feature and the Academy of Art University for their continued support.

Add a Comment

Macmillan, the publishing house that published Maria Had A Little Llama, just sent out a lovely little email with all their award winners from this year's ALA awards. It's certainly nice to see Maria there with other books that I adore.

Also I'm going to be participating in group show this March at the Sun Gallery with a bunch of Bay Area Children's Book Illustrators. The artist reception will be March 16th from 1pm to 4pm. Should be fun!

Add a Comment

I'm humbled and delighted to announce that Maria Had A Little Llama won the 2014 Pura Belpré Honor.  I can't wait to receive the award at the Annual American Library Association Meeting in Las Vegas. #alayma

If you want to watch the announcement and other ALA Youth Media Awards. Here's the link. It's announced around minute 40.

http://live.webcastinc.com/ala/2014/live/

Add a Comment

Here is a delightful video for Scholastic Book Club featuring Maria Had A Little Llama.

Add a Comment

I'm a little rusty, but I'm sketching again outside. This is near my first apartment in San Francisco.

Add a Comment

Good News! Maria Had A Little Llama was featured on Horn Book today.

Add a Comment

I just finished the final sketches for Loro Mango written by Meg Medina (Candlewick 2015). I can't show all of them, but here are a few of my favorites.

Add a Comment

I picked it up today after last week's lovely ceremony. Still in shock and feeling very grateful.
The school also produced a lovely little video of me and what I do. Here is a clip:

Add a Comment

Here is one of the final illustrations from Knit Together (Dial 2015). This story has been a labor of love for the past few years. It is actually the very first story I ever wrote. It began in 2010 as a poorly written rhyme with no narrative (and rejected a few times) to something that I'm very proud. I couldn't have done it without my wonderful team at Dial and my agent.

Add a Comment

Here is the completed Mailer for 826 Valencia's Winter Mailer.

Add a Comment