 Today we celebrate the book birthday of Musa Jackie Morera's wonderful new book, Together We Remember, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación. We sat down with Jackie to learn more about this book. Together We Remember is a fiction picture book about imagination, the power of memories, and the “why” behind daydreaming. It follows a girl and her father as they embark on an imagination adventure that includes rainforest hikes, intergalactic planet-hopping, and most of all, remembering Mami through her favorite activity—creating stories and memories together. “An imaginative journey through grief, love, and the promise of adventures yet to come.” —Kirkus Reviews “In Morera and Encarnación’s wistful bilingual story, imagination-fueled play helps ‘chase the blues away’ for a father and child…loving work about a family’s bond.” —Publishers Weekly Read more after the link... What 3 words would you use to describe your book? Adventurous, heartfelt, and vibrant. Where did you get the idea to write this particular story? To answer this question, I’ll share a snippet from my author’s note: “... In a way, Together We Remember was born from this magic, and one such universe, when I stumbled upon an old photo of my dad and me playing with my toys in our tiny bathroom sink. Propped on his knee, my hands submerged in a few inches of water, we traversed entire oceans. Or, at least, I did. Because I know now that while I felt safe and loved enough to dream up impossible things and brave new worlds, my dad’s singular wish at any given moment was for a better life for me. And so what started as a cozy father-daughter story, a playful jaunt through a child’s imagination, grew into one about the things we might long to manifest and why. It became a story about the power of memories and how, if we engage with our imagination in just the right way, we can create the world we most desire. Even if only for a spell.”  What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story? It’s hard to choose! Working with my lovely editor, Lois Evans, has been a delight. I’ve learned so much partnering with her and the team at Make Me A World. This story wouldn’t be possible without them! But my favorite part has to be the first time I saw Violeta Encarnación’s stunning illustrations. She’s unbelievably talented, and it’s my honor to have her as a book partner.  What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story? I hope this book encourages readers to dive fearlessly into imagination and embrace the magic of remembering. What comes next for you as an author? I have another picture book releasing next year! More updates and announcements to come, so follow along at jmorerabooks.com or @jmorerabooks on most social media platforms if you want to stay informed. I also plan to celebrate the release of Together We Remember by sharing it with readers in person! If you’re able to attend one of the events below, I would love to have you! Together We Remember Storytime Events
 Photo credit: Janet Randolph Photography Jackie Morera is a Cuban American author of books for young-at-heart readers. Outside of writing, Jackie enjoys talking to the bees and butterflies in her pollinator garden, savoring pastelitos, and cozying up for a good nap. Her work includes Together We Remember, Abuelo;s Flower Shop, and more! Jackie invites you to visit her online at jmorerabooks.com and on TikTok, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads @jmorerabooks.
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