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Happy Book Birthday to Cindy L Rodriguez’s Three Pockets Full: A story of love, family and tradition!
Terry: Cindy, I am so delighted to interview you about your latest book, Three Pockets Full. And please note that it is not three pocketfuls (which my spell check doesn’t love anyway) but Three Pockets Full. We’ll talk more about that. But I have to tell you that you have done so much for the Latinx kidlit community that I just wanted to do the interview to give just a little tiny bit back to you. I am grateful for all you have done and continue to do for all of us and I am so happy to be celebrating your debut picture book with you. Tell me, you are prolific and your writing spans from YA to now picture books. You have been a journalist. What brought you to this story? Cindy: Hi Terry! Thanks so much for interviewing me! I have grown up around men in guayaberas, especially my dad, who is from Puerto Rico. When I was brainstorming ideas for Latinx-themed picture books, focusing on the guayabera was one idea that rose to the surface when I couldn’t find any other books specifically about this traditional garment. I tried different approaches. In one version Beto had an older sister who was getting married, for example. Ultimately, I decided to have Beto’s Mami get remarried, and the shirt came into play that way. Also, I taught in public schools for 21 years, and so many of my students have blended families, so I wanted to combine these things—the shirt plus a parent getting remarried, creating a blended family. Terry: I totally get it. When I picture my papi, he is wearing a guayabera. And I am happy you landed on Mami and the blended family. You are right, that’s what so many children experience, you had to do it. Now let’s talk about your other work. Your YA book is a very serious book, dealing with mental health issues. Your Jake Maddox books are for middle graders and they’re all about sports. Then you just had a non-fiction picture book The Doomed Search for the Lost City of Z. What a range of interests! Can you chat with us about which of these genres you like best, what they bring to you? Cindy: I think this is a left-over effect of being a journalist. When I covered towns in Connecticut, each day was something different, and I’d have to adjust. One day, I’d attend a planning and zoning commission meeting (fun!), and the next day, I’d write a profile of the town’s teacher of the year. I’m always open to different topics and formats. Also, after my YA released, I had issues with agents and did not have another contract. To keep writing and remain in the publishing world, I started doing work-for-hire projects. The Jake Maddox books and Lost City of Z are all work-for-for-hire projects published by Capstone. I learned something valuable with each project. With the Jake Maddox books, I learned about different sports, plus one is a mystery, which I had never done before. Lost City of Z is a non-fiction graphic novel, so that was a whole new process! Doing work-for-hire projects keeps me writing while I wait, wait, wait for something to happen with my personal projects in traditional publishing. Terry: I feel the same way about work for hire, I just finished a project. It does keep you writing. And it’s a great opportunity to learn something new. You dedicate the book to your dad “who looks super cool in a guayabera.” In addition to Beto’s story, this book is a primer on the history of guayaberas. Tell us more about the evolution of the story, the melding of the two threads, Beto’s thread and the history of the Mexican Wedding shirt. Cindy: I talked a bit about Beto’s story above, but more on my dad…He was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago with his family when he was young. Fast forward many years, he joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Brazil, where he met and married my mom. Because of his time in Brazil and his relationship with my mom, my dad is fluent in Portuguese, as well as Spanish and English. And, honestly, since my mom had a bigger family and didn’t speak English when she first moved to the U.S., my siblings and I heard more Portuguese than Spanish while growing up. Because of this, I always make a conscious effort to research and dig into my Puerto Rican side, to honor and not forget my dad’s roots. While the guayabera is called the Mexican wedding shirt, it is popular throughout Latin America and Southeast Asian countries. The guayabera was often the go-to shirt for my dad when we were going out somewhere, so I wanted to learn more about its history and honor my dad. Terry: This book is both hilarious and poignant. Three things I want to explore. One is whether this story has a basis in your life? The other question, or maybe comment that I want you to reflect on is that this is a very poignant story, but the humor in the beginning makes the revelation at the end that much more moving. The last thing is that you are the master of foreshadowing. This is a picture book, yet it unfolds as a mystery. You dribble out the clues slowly, as the story goes along, but it’s not until the very end that the reader understands Beto’s motivation. Can you tell us about your journey to that form? Cindy: I did not grow up in a blended family, but my own is very much so. I adopted my daughter from Guatemala as a single parent almost 16 years ago, and I married my husband who is 100% white by way of rural Vermont, only four years ago. So, my daughter is a Guatemalan adopted into a Puerto Rican/Brazilian family and has a white step-dad, plus an older step-brother and step-sister. Whew! So, yeah, this, plus thinking about my students, I wanted to write something about blended families and some of the emotions that a young person might feel. At the same time, this is a picture book, so I wanted to inject some humor. As a former teacher and as a mom, I have seen the things children do when they want to avoid a tough situation. I drew from that for Beto’s antics. The back-and-froth between Beto and Mami also allowed me to get in some of the history of the guayabera. I also like stories when there’s an “Ah-ha” moment. So, in this case, readers will first think it’s about the shirt—a cultural thing that’s not cool, but he’s being forced to accept. This alone is a thing that happens in families—the older generation forcing something onto the younger generation to preserve traditions. Later, though, I wanted readers to then go, “Oh, it’s not really about the shirt. His feelings stem from something else, something deeper.” Terry: Well, brava! You did it. It worked beautifully. I love, love, love, Beto. His voice is perfect, and he is absolutely imaginative. I loved when he dressed up the dog in the guayabera. Who was the model for Beto? Cindy: Beto wasn’t modeled on a single child, but, as stated above, I pulled from my experiences as a mom and teacher. Children have big emotions, but they don’t always know how to express them, or they do so in ways that are anything but straightforward. I remembered my daughter used to cover her eyes, like if she couldn’t see me, then I couldn’t see her! Or she’d shove everything under her bed or in the laundry basket to “clean” her room. I once found a computer keyboard in her laundry! Hysterical! Like, if I just shove things out of sight, the problem is solved. Beto seems to think by returning the shirt in creative ways, he will wear down Mami and get his way, but nope…not going to happen….which leads us to our next question :.) Terry: Beto’s mantra to wearing the guayabera to the wedding is “NOPE, NUNCA, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.” Sometimes there is a phrase that turns the story on in my mind. I love it so much, that I weave the story around it. Did that happen to you with that phrase? Which came first, the story or the phrase? Cindy: I think the story came first, as I remember doing the research and drafting first. I had a friend who simply said, “No,” whenever she wanted to dismiss an idea or something that happened. Nowadays, we hear that more often, and there’s even the movie “Nope,” which I haven’t seen, but we often respond with these simple phrases: No. Nope. Not okay. I think it was this kind of thought process that created Beto’s refrain. Terry: Another tool you use in the story is the use of notes. After the first verbal exchange, Beto tells his mother all the reasons he won’t wear the guayabera to the wedding via notes which he places in the pockets of the guayabera. His mother answers in a similar way. Even the history of the guayabera is told through the notes. How did you come up with that idea? Cindy: I could have kept all of it in the back matter, but not everyone might read the information in the back of the book. I really wanted to weave the information into the story to give the reader more to think about. You could read it once, focusing on his feelings and the family aspect. You can read it again, with a focus on the guayabera itself, the history, etc. As a veteran teacher, I think I’m always thinking about including nonfiction that can be used in the classroom. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn’t and it makes more sense to keep all of it in the back matter. With this story, since Beto and Mami are communicating through notes, it seemed to work. Terry: Yes! It really worked. And it added humor as well. What can you tell me about the illustrations? I loved the cover. It is perfect because it features the guayabera and its pockets. And nothing else. Begoña Fernandez Corbalán did a fantastic job capturing not just Beto, and Lupe the dog, who are both adorable, but also the mother. And then again, there is David in the background. Always in the background. What can you tell us about how you feel about the illustrations? Cindy: I was thrilled with the illustrations! Begoña did an amazing job capturing the characters. Lupe, the dog, is a total scene stealer. I am a huge dog lover, so I loved all of Lupe’s expressions and how much the dog added to the story. And David being present was not my idea, so kudos to Begoña and the publisher (if they discussed it first). When I saw him there, I thought it was brilliant. The reader probably thinks David is his dad and the wedding is someone else’s—a cousin, aunt, whoever, and Beto just hates this traditional shirt. And then, at the end, you realize David and Mami are getting married! And he’s been around the whole time, also witnessing Beto’s antics. Poor guy! :.) But that’s reality, right? He’s there, and he’s part of the story, but, really, Mami and Beto have to work through something important themselves. Terry: Begoña really did hit it out of the park having David there. And absolutely, at first I thought it was this random unimportant wedding and the book was all about the guayabera. You both have given teachers and parents so much to work with. Kudos to you both. On your website, you say I teach. I write. I dwell in possibility. Can you share what that means to you? Cindy: On August 29, I started a new job after 21 years in teaching. Who knows, I may still tutor or teach at the local community college, but for now, it’s the first time in two decades that I’m not teaching. Being an educator has taught me so much about myself, about children, about learning, and more. It’s been a crucial part of who I am and how I’ve grown over the years. This is also true about writing and the phrase I dwell in Possibility. As a lifelong learner and writer, I am always looking ahead and thinking about what’s possible. That keeps me interested in the world and makes me wonder how I can contribute positively in this lifetime. Plus, I’m a huge Emily Dickinson fan/nerd, and “I dwell in Possibility” is from one of her poems. Terry: Well, of course. Love that idea. Cindy, tell us what else is on the horizon for you? What other projects can you tell us and not tell us about? Cindy: In January 2023, another nonfiction graphic novel comes out with Capstone, called The Mount Everest Disaster of 1996. Right now, I have two picture books on submission with editors—one is about Three Kings Day and the other is a back-to-school story. I am also working on two middle grade projects—one that is a personal project and another that is work-for-hire, which has been acquired but has not been announced yet, so I can’t reveal any details. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share the good news soon! Terry: I can’t wait to hear the good news. Cindy, it has been a pleasure chatting with you. I wish you every success and look forward to working with you more in Las Musas. Be sure to put THREE POCKETS FULL on your to-read list!
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Happy Book Birthday to The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González!  Andrea: Karina, I just want to start off by saying how wonderful it was to read a picture book about Puerto Ricans that is set in Puerto Rico. With the majority of US published Latinx kidlit taking place in the continental United States, what made you want to write a book set outside of it? Karina: That’s an interesting question. When I first drafted this story, I had intended to move Elena and her family out of Puerto Rico following Hurricane María, because we were hearing so much about young families leaving. But at the suggestion of my agent and her editorial assistant, they urged me to keep the story situated in Puerto Rico, and that made me rethink everything including what was guiding my decision to uproot their lives. Often, we hear about the experience of Boricuas, like ourselves, who either moved here or had parents who moved here, yet we rarely hear about the Boricuas who stay, and they stay for a multitude of reasons beyond the typical assumption that it’s because of poverty. But when Hurricane María happened, my Abuela chose not to leave, not because things weren’t difficult -- her situation was absolutely cruel. She didn’t have electricity for 6 months! As a 79 year-old woman at the time, that was so tough. But she wanted to stay because she loves Puerto Rico, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else for an extended period of time. So it made sense to write a story in which a family remains and restores what is theirs. Elena and her family love their home, their community, their pueblo, like my Abuela – and I think that kind of depiction is not only honest but presents an underlying political message. The will of the people will not be extinguished by natural disasters or human-caused blackouts, or even the gross exploitation of colonialism. My maternal great-grandparents cultivated coffee, tobacco, and sugar cane on farms in the early 1900s – most of our families at some point dug their fingers into the soil and worked the land. And I don’t think that’s something we should forget or let go of. Andrea: Absolutely. None of my family left, and it was hard, watching from the States as my mom and brother and extended family all navigated the aftermath. Because truly - the island was completely changed. María didn’t just destroy buildings and roads, it did some serious damage to the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico. I mean, I remember even the bees were gone! What made you want to focus on the coquí, specifically, for your story? Karina: The coquí is endemic to Puerto Rico, and so I think that partly fuels our adoration for the species, but I think it goes even beyond that. Coquí symbols were carved into rocks by the indigenous people of Borinquen hundreds of years ago. That’s how ingrained they are in our culture! It’s a tiny amphibian with a powerful mating call that can be heard from many meters away. When the coquí sings ‘co-quí’ [ko-KEE], we interpret that sound as them saying “I’m here” – and that is kind of what they’re saying. Eminent researcher and professor, Dr. Rafael Joglar, explains that when the coquí sings ‘co,’ they’re asserting their territory to the other macho coquíes, and when the coquí sings ‘quí’ they’re letting the female coquíes know that they’re ready to mate. Coquí = I’m here I titled the book, “The Coquíes Still Sing,” because after Hurricane María their mating call fell silent. We were all alarmed by that silence, and their absence was terrifying because their existence feels tied up with ours because they have been around for as long as us, and perhaps even longer. “The Coquíes Still Sing” is a literal title, yet also symbolic. With it, I’m also saying that the people still sing, too. It’s a mirroring of sorts. The world fixes their gaze to a place and people in the wake of a disaster, yet turn away before they can tell their stories about how they overcame each hardship and found a way to smile again. Andrea: You are so right. And that’s why I particularly loved how you used both your book and social media in the week leading up to your debut as a time to showcase the grassroots organizations based in PR that were (and still are) actively advocating for change. How were these organizations important in the wake of the hurricane and why is it important people continue to support them now? Karina: When Hurricane María made landfall, I was living in Brooklyn and had just started a new job as a school-based speech-language pathologist. I had previously been involved in the activist community of Boricuas here in NYC because I was concerned with all of the austerity measures that were being thrusted upon the population without their consent. So when María happened, a group of us shifted our attention to organizing fundraisers for different grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico like Comedores Sociales, which had been providing meals to people who lived in mountainous regions. So many elderly people were unable to access food or transportation! When “The Coquíes Still Sing” was acquired, editors Luisa Beguiristaín and Connie Hsu were immediately supportive of my request to include as many of these orgs that I could fit on one page! I think that whenever any of us get a chance to create art, to write, or to speak at an event for the public’s consumption, I think it’s important to acknowledge people who are engaged in community work. Many of the people who are engaged in the community work I reference in my book, do so out of genuine interest and love. I know this because I have met some of them! They deserve all of the support and spotlight. Andrea: The organizations aren’t the only information you provide in your book. You actually include a lot of back matter. It reminded me of Yuyi Morales’ Bright Star, which also offers a lot of context and history at the end. How can adults help kids access this information and why was it so important for you to include it? Karina: Yes, this backmatter is definitely geared for adults who are engaging in guided reading or for an older child. I think it would be an injustice to not provide the reader with greater context about Puerto Rico, what happened during Hurricane María, and the relationship between PR and the US. There have been so many awful mischaracterizations and disparaging comments made about Puerto Ricans in the corporate media world and by bigots online, and I wanted to create a book that can be a point of historical reference and a source of hope and pride. For students and families outside of Puerto Rico, this story can be incorporated into a conversation with kids of any age or even a history/geographical lesson about the Caribbean or natural disasters, which are common across the globe. Andrea: Yes, and those conversations are SO important! Does this have to do with why you chose a picture book as the medium for your story? Karina: During my first year as a bilingual speech-language pathologist at an elementary school, I sought out contemporary picture books that not only reflected racial diversity, but also stories that centered families from a working class background. Mi Papi Tiene Una Moto/My Papi Has a Motorcycle, by Isabel Quintero, was a favorite amongst my students because many of them have fathers who work in construction or ride motorcycles and bikes. They immediately connected to the text. That was a major lightbulb moment. Early reading experiences are so important because educators and parents can cultivate a love for reading by simply presenting stories that resonate with children. Shared reading also promotes bonding, whether between parent-child or teacher-student. It also promotes visual and emotional literacy! Unfortunately, there’s this assumption that picture books are only designed for children, but I think sophisticated picture books are for all ages. The shorter text and illustrations can trigger an adult’s imagination or even memories in an emotional way that an article or a longer form text might not be able to do. I think this is what makes the picture book genre so special. Andrea: You’re right. It is special. And I honestly feel so grateful to you for creating this wonderful story, and from a place of such thoughtful nuance and love. Thank you for sharing so much about The Coquíes Still Sing with us today and I look forward to seeing what other stories you have to tell. Be sure to check out The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González today!
Ana Siqueira and Irena Freitas are celebrating their upcoming book with an AMAZING GIVEAWAY!!!12/1/2021 IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA is coming soon from Simon for Young Readers, in August 2022! Do not judge a bruja by her sombrero, but… feel free to judge this book by its amazing cover!  This bouncy, bilingual picture book is an enchanting, rollicking read-aloud for small ones with big imaginations: On the night before Halloween, a new babysitter might be more than she appears. If she wears a black sombrero and cackles like a crow, she might just be a bruja! One little girl knows bath time is really the bruja’s way of putting her in a boiling cauldron, and the only way to keep her at bay is with a magic potion—or is it? With boundless imagination and plenty of tricks up her sleeve, the young protagonist may just have the best night ever! Read more about it at Mr. Schu’s blog and pre-order here!
 Giveaway Details!A huge Las Musas happy book birthday to Alexandra Katona on the release of her debut picture book, Dinner on Domingos! Alexandra Alessandri interviews Alexandra Katona (tocayas!)—but first, here’s a little bit about this sweet story, which is part of the Children’s Book Council September 2021 "Hot Off the Press Reading List." Kirkus Reviews called it “an ebullient celebration of family and the rituals that bring a family together” and Booklist called it “a warm story of family, food, and fun [that is a] wonderful celebration of culture and family.  Las Musas wishes a happy book birthday to Zara González Hoang on the release of her picture book A New Kind of Wild! What does it feel like to move to a new city, leaving behind what you knew and loved? Can you find “a new kind of wild” in a strange new place? Zara González Hoang explores these questions in her magical and colorful author-illustrator debut, A New Kind of Wild, which “is an imaginative exploration of the true meaning of ‘home.’” Alexandra Alessandri interviews Zara about her inspiration and process, but first, here’s a description of this stunning book: This sweet author-illustrator debut celebrates imagination, the magic of friendship, and all the different ways we make a new place feel like home.  For Ren, home is his grandmother's little house, and the lush forest that surrounds it. Home is a place of magic and wonder, filled with all the fantastical friends that Ren dreams up. Home is where his imagination can run wild.
For Ava, home is a brick and cement city, where there's always something to do or see or hear. Home is a place bursting with life, where people bustle in and out like a big parade. Home is where Ava is never lonely because there's always someone to share in her adventures. When Ren moves to Ava's city, he feels lost without his wild. How will he ever feel at home in a place with no green and no magic, where everything is exactly what it seems? Of course, not everything in the city is what meets the eye, and as Ren discovers, nothing makes you feel at home quite like a friend.  Like many in our community we've watched the last few weeks in a whirlwind of anxiety, worry, and confusion.
As members of our communities we applaud the decisions to cancel events, festivals, and more for the safety of those around us. As authors it made us wonder, how can we connect with our readers during this time of "social distancing"? In response, Las Musas has launched an exciting webinar series to connect our authors with readers, writers, and educators around the globe. Every month, we will offer a series of free webinars including: Book Journeys... Want to know what it takes to become a published author? Las Musas take you on a unique behind-the-scenes book journey! They will describe in detail how they took their books from idea to publication. They will also answer all your questions about the process of becoming an author. Book Club & Author Q & As... A book club where the authors answer all your questions! ALL YOUR QUESTIONS... OK, within reason. Writing Craft and Publishing Insights... Need help figuring out what is the best method to plot? How to write a query letter? Get a literary agent to represent you? Las Musas share everything they have learned along their journey to publication, from surviving your first draft to signing that first book deal! ANNNND our first event is NEXT WEEK!! (Click Read More to find out when!) |
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