The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival Podcast

Mia García (THE RESOLUTIONS) welcomes Mayra Cuevas (SALTY, BITTER, SWEET), Laekan Zea Kemp (SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET), Nina Moreno (DON’T DATE ROSA SANTOS) and Laura Taylor Namey (A CUBAN GIRL’S GUIDE TO TEA AND TOMORROW) as they talk about the role food plays in their stories, and the meaningful connections between food and their families and cultures. These young adult authors will be sharing cooking traditions, and showing viewers how they have fun in the kitchen.

Moderator: Mia García is the author of the young adult novels Even If the Sky Falls and The Resolutions.

Cultural expectations, a rush to be ‘grown’ and a lack of books that really see them—how do Latinx boys in that in-between age come to understand what it means to be ‘a man’? Middle Grade authors Kim Baker (THE WATER BEARS), Ryan Calejo (CHARLIE HERNANDEZ SERIES), Pablo Cartaya (EACH TINY SPARK), Ryan Estrada (BANNED BOOK CLUB) and Carlos Hernandez (SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE) discuss how books for and about the lives of boys play an integral part in challenging perceptions of masculinity and celebrating the joys of being a boy.

Moderator: Kim Baker is the author of the middle grade novels The Water Bears and Pickle, a 2013 CBC Children's Choice Awards, Book of the Year finalist.

These YA authors explore the influence of the Latin American post-colonial tradition in their work. How does magical realism seed our stories as it morphs into other genres—fabulism, eco-horror, Latinx futurism? What strategies does magical realism provide marginalized writers to speak truth to power? With Michelle Ruiz Keil (ALL OF US WITH WINGS), Samantha Mabry (TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS), Guadalupe Garcia McCall (SHAME THE STARS), Daniel José Older (SHADOWSHAPER LEGACY) and Julio Anta (FRONTERA).

Moderator: Michelle Ruiz Keil is the author of the young adult novel All of Us With Wings. She is a 2020 Literary Lions honoree.

Whether they’re exploring a fantasy land, coming into their magic in the real world, or stepping up to save their families from real dangers, these Latinx writers are giving a new generation of kids the positive reinforcement they need to be the heroes of their own stories. Join Ernesto Cisneros (EFR´EN DIVIDED), Alex Aster (CURSE OF THE NIGHTWITCH), Alejandra Green (FANTASTIC TALES OF NOTHING), and Fanny Rodriguez (FANTASTIC TALES OF NOTHING) as they talk about what it means to be a hero and what tools Latinx tweens take from these adventures into their own lives.

Moderator: Mary Louise Sanchez is the author of the middle grade novel THE WIND CALLED MY NAME which won the 2016 New Visions Award from Tu Books (Lee & Low Books) and was a finalist for the WILLA Award from Women Writing the West.

In a world that “others” and marginalizes them, young Latinxs often struggle with their identity and feelings of self-worth. They can become torn between their parents’ language and culture and that of the mainstream. Authors e.E Charlton-Trujillo (FAT ANGIE), Anna Garcia Schaper (WISHBONE), Richie Narvaez (HOLLY HERNANDEZ AND THE DEATH OF DISCO), Alex Temblador (SECRETS OF THE CASA ROSADA) and Francesca Flores (DIAMOND CITY)  discuss how their characters deal with contemporary issues of family and identity and how fiction can help readers build their own sense of self-worth.

Moderated by: e.E. Charlton-Trujillo,  an award-winning Mexican American filmmaker and novelist.

Latinx men get the message early: be strong, cold and tough. Surrounded by machismo, boys and men often internalize a pose that injures their emotional health and endangers others. Authors Rebecca Balcárcel (THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY), Fred Aceves (THE NEW DAVID ESPINOZA), Ruben Degollado (THROW), Anika Fajardo (WHAT IF A FISH) and Matt Mendez (BARELY MISSING EVERYTHING) will discuss experiences relating to machismo, the portrayal of male Latinx characters, and healthy male role models in Latinx literature.

Moderator: Rebecca Balcárcel is the author of the middle grade novel The Other Half of Happy a Pura Belpré Honor Book, an ALSC Notable Book, and was called “a must-have for all library collections” by School Library Journal.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and few know that as well as these illustrators. Join Juana Medina (JUANA & LUCAS), Raúl the Third (LOWRIDERS), Axur Eneas (STUDENT AMBASSADOR: THE MISSING DRAGON), Carlos Aponte (ACROSS THE BAY) and Adriana Bergstrom (ABUELITA AND I MAKE FLAN) as they discuss pictures as a medium for telling stories, the value of art as entertainment in kidlit, and the use of visual media as a method of storytelling.

Moderator: Adriana Bergstrom is a Cuban-American mixed media and picture book illustrator.

What does it mean to be Latinx enough? What if you look more like your Irish grandmother with red hair or blue eyes? What if you don’t speak to Spanish? Or if —¡Dios Mio!—you don’t like spicy food? In American culture, there are stereotypes that Latinx people have to contend with - but even within Latinidad there is a perception that one needs to be a certain way, have certain attributes, to be considered truly Latinx. Authors Jen Cervantes (THE STORM RUNNER SERIES), Ruth Behar (LETTERS FROM CUBA), David Bowles (THEY CALL ME GÜERO),  and Yesenia Moises (HONEYSMOKE: A Story of Finding Your Color) delve into the perceptions and realities of Latinx identity—and how complex and beautiful it is.

Moderated by: Jen Cervantes is the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of children and young adult books, including The Storm Runner series.

This panel of writers and illustrators will discuss how picture books can plant seeds of social justice, help build empathy, and be agents of change in kids. Authors Diana López (LUCKY LUNA), Jackie Azúa Kramer (THE BOY AND THE GORILLA), Eric Velasquez (OCTOPUS STEW), Silvia López (QUEEN OF TEJANO MUSIC: SELENA) and Magdalena Mora (EQUALITY’S CALL), reflect our reality in a way that can build compassion, understanding, courage and kindness. A timely and important discussion that will inspire us to think more critically about the books we read.

Moderator: Diana López is the author of the middle grade novel Lucky Luna, and the book adaptation of the Disney film Coco.

NYC is a featured character in many kidlit stories but rarely do we see the New York we know reflected back to us from the pages. NYC wouldn't be the city it is without the wildly diverse Latinx community and it is time we saw this New York reflected back to us in the books we love. This diverse group of New Yorker Latinx authors discuss the wide experiences of the Latinx communities that make this city what it is. With Ismée Williams (THIS TRAIN IS BEING HELD), Natasha Díaz (COLOR ME IN), Saraciea Fennell (WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED) and Charles Rice-González (CHULITO).

Moderated by: Ismée Williams is the author of the young adult novels Water in May and This Train is Being Held.