Spring Blooms
RAFI AND ROSI MENU! RAFI Y ROSI ¡MENÚ!
I’m thrilled to announce that the final title of the Rafi and Rosi Coquí series, Rafi and Rosi Menu! and its Spanish version Rafi y Rosi ¡Menú!,will be released this coming September 9.
Just this week I learned that along with the previous titles, this one has also been selected by the Junior Library Guild, making the whole five book series a Gold Standard Selection! Thrilling.
It’s been a long ride for these tree frogs, ambassadors of Puerto Rico since 2004, when the first title was published. Each book features three distinct stories centered on a specific theme: nature, carnival, history, music, and now the island’s delicious food! Woven into the fabric of the rollicking adventures of the curious sibling duo is the abiding love for each other.
Like in all books in the series, the stories of Rafi and Rosi Menu!, and Rafi y Rosi ¡Menú! are crafted after much research on the subject matter. I love to cook and you’ll be happy to learn that I’m sharing with my readers three recipes of traditional foods I’ve been preparing in my kitchen for several decades. A pasteles puertorriqueños recipe that I have been tweaking for twenty years, and its vegan version, is in there.
Calendar of events where to get your copies autographed coming soon!
EN ESPAÑOL
PRIMER PREMIO DE POESIA JUVENIL PARA VERDE FRESCO
¡Qué alegría! A Verde Fresco: Árboles asombrosos y extraordinarios le han otorgado el Primer Premio Campy-Ada por poesía juvenil de temas universales. En las palabras del jurado, “este libro representa la mejor enciclopedia de motivación y descubrimiento sobre los árboles que pueblan nuestro planeta…¡Un libro que entusiasma!”
The Spanish version of Cool Green: Amazing, Remarkable Trees was awarded first prize of Premio Campoy-Ada in Youth Poetry at a recent ceremony. The award is given jointly by the University of Texas in San Antonio and the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española. Books are judged by the relevance of their content, the literary and artistic quality, and the excellent use of the Spanish language. It is a true honor being recognized for the quality of writing in my native tongue.
APRIL IS EARTH MONTH
CELEBRATE WITH A STEAM PROGRAM!
April is not only Poetry Month but also Earth Month. I’ve been visiting schools and inspiring budding scientists with my latest program: Olinguito and Cool Green: The Research Behind Award-Winning STEAM Books. A program based on two books that blend lyrical language with STEM subject matter.
Olinguito de la A a la Z Descubriendo el bosque nublado: Olinguito from A to Z Unveiling the Cloud Forest and Cool Green: Amazing Remarkable Trees have been recognized by the Orbis Pictus Awards from the National Council of Teachers of English. Plan your bilingual author visit today!
