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About Yuyi Morales
Yuyi is the 2004 winner of the Pura Belpre Medal for Illustration for her book Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book as well as the 2008 winner for Los Gatos Black on Halloween (written by Marissa Montes), given to a Latino illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
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Her book Harvesting Hope; The story of Cesar Chavez (written by Kathell Krull), was the recipient of the Christopher Award and the Jane Adams Award, and was deemed one of the best books of 2003 by Child Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, and School Library Journal.
Yuyi is also the creator of ALA notable book, Little Night, co-released in Spanish as Nochecita, and winner of the 2008 SCBWI Golden Kite Medal.
Some of other recognitions her work has received include the Americas Award, the California book Award, and the Tomas Rivera Award won in 2004 and 2008.
Asked about her work Yuyi says, "I strive to capture the incredible beauty of the every day forms using textures and colors as another way to reveal the heart of the story. I also pursue glow and luminosity with resolve. If I could ask for a talent, it would be to become a color genius."
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Author Updates
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Blog postWatsonville, California.
School windows open to the land
And the skies
Drawings of monarch butterflies
Fly through the hallways
I am there to read to the children
A teacher tells me “Esta escuela habla español”
That every child there
Is brought each morning
By their Spanish speaking familia migrante.
For a moment she smiles
But then she says
People are afraid
Last month
She continues
1 year ago Read more -
Blog postI had a conversation with my editor, Neal Porter, about our journey of making Dreamers. You might like to check it out.2 years ago Read more
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Blog postScholastic has launched a wonderful reading campaign, and many free resources are offered at their site here.
In the meantime, here is a video with an interview about my work and the creation of my poster for this project.7 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe New York Public Library unveiled their 100 Top Children’s Books of the Last 100 Years, and guess who made the list! I'll give you a clue, a very old woman and a very thin skeleton.
Three more Pura Belpre titles include Gary Soto's Chato's Kitchen, Illustrated by Susan Guevara, Lucia Gonzalez for The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo de Bodas, Illustrated by Lulu Delacre and Pam Munoz-Ryan's Esperanza Rising.
Find the complete list here7 years ago Read more -
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Blog postHere I am trying my hand at embeding some of my postings from Face Books. Let's see how it works.
Post by Yuyi Morales.7 years ago Read more -
Blog postAs I am preparing to go live, make my books, and be carried away by more creative projects in Mexico, I have started to say my good-byes to many of the people that had been the pillars of my life her in the United States. Earlier this week, my critique group and I had a party to celebrate the great years we have shared together creating children's books.
Jim Averbeck, Maria Van Lieshout, Lynn Hazen, Karen Ehrhardt, Gianna Marino, and I have been the Revisionaries since 197 years ago Read more -
Blog postA few weeks ago, when we had the Niño book release party, the lucha mask making activity was a blast. One teacher told me that she thought she could have their annual school play based in my book if she could have access to the mask templates I had created. So, by her request I have made the masks' printout (featuring the faces of every character in the book ) available for downloading here. I have also started a Pinterest board with all Niño Wrestles the World images and links tha7 years ago Read more
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Blog postWhen earlier last month Lee & Low Books posted this question in their blog, "Why Hasn’t the Number of Multicultural Books Increased In Eighteen Years?" many responses began circulating that touched everything from how we feel about white authors and illustrators writing books about people of other races, and about the role (and the criteria to select winners) of ethic book awards such as the Coretta Scott King Award or the Pura Belpre or the Asian Pacific American Book A8 years ago Read more
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Blog postThere has been such a great welcoming to Niño Wrestles the World, and while we get ready for the book party this weekend, here are a few posting about the book:
The Horn Book included Niño into this article about the blend between imagination and reality in picture books.
Julie Danielson, the author of the 7-IMP blog made a nicely detailed review of Niño, and later featured some thumbnails, sketches, and other bits of the process of making the image8 years ago Read more -
Blog postIt has been a busy, busy season with many changes, and much growth. But for now it is time to celebrate!
This Sunday we will have a book party for my newest book, Niño Wrestles the World, at the tiniest and most wonderful book store in San Francisco, Luna's Press, hosted by my dear friend and poet Jorge Argueta.
Here the poster invitations, both in Eglish and Spanish.
Hope you come!8 years ago Read more -
Blog postThis was such a busy and fruitful year that I had very few opportunities to write about it. Here a brief look back at what made it wonderful:
The Mexican sun in the mornings
Yotopia, its people, and the best frozen yogurt in town
Mi sistersTamarindo with lemon at the park in XalapaMy brother (and the painting of his house)Xico, where I will live some dayThe publication of Gerogia in Hawaii
The last of Soli's daysEmbroidering venaditosMiguel, Sita, and my Bay8 years ago Read more -
Blog postCandlewick Press is celebrating its 20th anniversary and to add to the festivities they asked many authors, illustrators, book makers, and book lovers to tell about their love for picture books in videos. These videos are part of a year-long celebration and are being posted one per day.
When I began thinking about the video I would made I was highly inspired. Picture books are very important to me because they changed the course of my life, and they gave me direction as an immigrant8 years ago Read more -
Blog postLast year PBS came to my house to film a testimonial about the influence of public television in my life. This is what they have released just recently:
Hermosa Gente.8 years ago Read more -
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Blog post8 ways to join the World Book and Copyright day celebration (recommended by the UNESCO):
1. Download books published over 100 years ago on Kindle, they’re free.
2. Share your passion for an author and offer his book to people around you.
3. Take this opportunity to discover something new from what you're used to read.
4. Leave a book on a park bench or a metro seat with a note saying “Happy Book and Copyright Day!”
5. Find out how to send your old books to sc9 years ago Read more -
Blog postI regularly visit bookstores looking for the new published books; among those I also look for those written or illustrated by or about Latinos. Unfortunately, these are not usually easy come about; unless you know the specific titles to look for, these books might not even be found in the stores at all.
So, when the time for the ALA children's book awards comes, while I might have my favorites to win awards such as the Caldecott, I find it difficult to have an opinion of the stronge9 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe last four months of my work have been impregnated and defined by a dog. And not any dog but a dangerous one, some would say.
Soli arrive to our family in May when her original foster person, one of my neighbors, became too terrified of the pup to be able to handle him any more due to his aggressive behavior. At the time Soli was about four months old.
Last week, Soli was accepted at Miranda's animal Rescue, thus beginning a new journey of recovery and learning for9 years ago Read more -
Blog postAt the silversmith workshop this year, Lalo taught me how to do lost wax work. I began carving and sculpting my pieces in wax.
A botanical sacred heart, a seashell pendant,
And a necklace with a stone insert
Lalo attached all of my pieces, and other student's productions, into a wax tree to make a plaster mold.
The melting of the silver took place in Lencho's ovens at his studio in Coatepec. Vulcano's place was invaded by wild cats. I couldn't cou9 years ago Read more -
Blog postMy friend Alex deserved to have a cumbia made to him. He would dance it, I know. That was how masses of friends from his Zumba class decided to join me and made this video for him. Yes, he is that kind of teacher who would take his shirt off in the middle of the class. Below are the lyrics.
LA CUMBIA PROMETIDA
by Yuyi morales and Kelly O
Ay, sabrocita
Esta cumbia la tengo muy bien pegadita.
Ay, sabrocita
Esta cumbia la tengo muy bien pegad10 years ago Read more -
Blog postSome images from this years ALA in New Orleans are in PW
Here my own offerings Can you tell who there people are?:
10 years ago Read more -
Blog postIt is only a few hours before I fly to New Orleans for an grand ALA celebration.
If you are around, here are a few places where you will find me:
Saturday, June 25
9:30-11 am, Maya Soetoro-Ng and I will be signing Ladder to the Moon in the Candlewick booth #1023
12:00-1:30pm, Maya and I will be speaking at Many Voices, One Nation, at the Hotel Monteleone --Queen Anne Br.
3:00-4:00pm. Signing in the HMH booth #1539-1540
Sunday, June 26
a gr10 years ago Read more
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Yuyi Morales brought her hopes, her passion, her strength, and her stories with her, when she came to the United States in 1994 with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.
Dreamers is a celebration of making your home with the things you always carry: your resilience, your dreams, your hopes and history. It's the story of finding your way in a new place, of navigating an unfamiliar world and finding the best parts of it. In dark times, it's a promise that you can make better tomorrows.
This lovingly-illustrated picture book memoir looks at the myriad gifts migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own strengths wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.
The lyrical text is complemented by sumptuously detailed illustrations, rich in symbolism. Also included are a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of books that inspired her (and still do), and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book.
A parallel Spanish-language edition, Soñadores, is also available.
Winner of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award!
A New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book
A New York Times Bestseller
Recipient of the Flora Stieglitz Strauss Award
A 2019 Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor Recipient
An Anna Dewdney Read Together Honor Book
Named a Best Book of 2018 by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, NPR, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, Salon.com-- and many more!
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Eureka! Nonfiction Honoree
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon title
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
A CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
Selected for the CBC Champions of Change Showcase
When Cesar Chavez led a 340-mile peaceful protest march through California, he ignited a cause and improved the lives of thousands of migrant farmworkers. But Cesar wasn't always a leader. As a boy, he was shy and teased at school. His family slaved in the fields for barely enough money to survive. Cesar knew things had to change, and he thought that—maybe—he could help change them. So he took charge. He spoke up. And an entire country listened.
Señoras y Señores, put your hands together for the fantastic, spectacular, one of a kind . . . Niño!
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño—popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
A Neal Porter Book
Latino Interest. In English with Spanish vocabulary.
From Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Obama, comes a lyrical story relaying the loving wisdom of their late mother to a young granddaughter she never met.
(Ages 4-8)
Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window, and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. In a rich and deeply personal narrative, Maya Soetoro-Ng draws inspiration from her mother’s love for family, her empathy for others, and her ethic of service to imagine this remarkable meeting. Evoking fantasy and folklore, the story touches on events that have affected people across the world in our time and reaffirms our common humanity. Yuyi Morales’s breathtaking artwork illuminates the dreamlike tale, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon and remember.
En 1994, Yuyi Morales dejó su hogar en Xalapa, México, para emigrar a Estados Unidos con su hijo pequeño. Aunque dejó atrás casi todas sus pertenencias, no llegó con las manos vacías.
Trajo consigo su fortaleza, su trabajo, su pasión, sus esperanzas y sueños... y sus historias. El nuevo y magnífico libro de Yuyi Morales, Soñadores, se centra en la búsqueda por encontrar un hogar en un nuevo lugar. El trayecto de Yuyi y su hijo Kelly no fue fácil, ya que ella no hablaba inglés en esa época. Pero, juntos, descubrieron un lugar desconocido e increíble: la biblioteca pública. Allí, libro a libro, descifraron la lengua de esta nueva tierra y formaron en ella su hogar.
Soñadores es un homenaje a los migrantes y a todo lo que traen con ellos, y aportan, cuando dejan sus países. Es una historia de familia. Una historia que nos recuerda que todos somos soñadores que llevamos nuestros propios regalos donde quiera que vayamos. Bella y poderosa en todo momento, pero especialmente de una urgente premura hoy en día en que el futuro de los dreamers es incierto, esta es una historia actual y eterna.
El poético texto se complementa con unas espléndidas ilustraciones llenas de detalle y simbolismo. Incluye un ensayo autobiográfico sobre la experiencia de Yuyi, una bibliografía de los libros que la han inspirado (y la siguen inspirando) y una descripción de las bellas imágenes, texturas y recuerdos que utilizó para la creación de este libro.
También disponible la edición en inglés, Dreamers.
THREE-TIME PURA BELPRÉ WINNER
Yuyi Morales takes us on a new journey with Señor Calvera, the skeleton from Day of the Dead celebrations. Señor Calvera is worried. He can't figure out what to give Grandma Beetle for her birthday. Misunderstanding the advice of Zelmiro the Ghost, Señor Calvera decides not to get her one gift, but instead one gift for every letter of the alphabet, just in case. Una Acordéon: An accordion for her to dance to. Bigotes: A mustache because she has none. Cosquillas: Tickles to make her laugh…only to find out at the end of the alphabet that the best gift of all is seeing her friends. Morales's art glows in this heart-warming original tale with folklore themes, a companion book to her Pura Belpré-winning JUST A MINUTE.Just In Case is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year, the winner of the 2009 Pura Belpre Medal for Illustration and a Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative.
Latino Interest. In English with Spanish vocabulary.
A stunning bilingual story by award winning author and illustrator Yuyi Morales.
"A treasure for bedtime, or anytime." —School Library Journal
As the long day comes to an end, Mother Sky fills a tub with falling stars and calls, "Bath time for Little Night!"
Little Night answers from afar, "Can't come. I am hiding and you have to find me, Mama. Find me now!"
Where could Little Night be? Down a rabbit hole? In a blueberry field? Among the stripes of bees? Exquisitely painted and as gentle as Little Night's dress crocheted from clouds, this is a story to treasure.
With a bilingual text in both English and Spanish, Little Night Nochecita by Yuyi Morales is a sweet story every child can enjoy.
Award-winning author and illustrator Yuyi Morales is the author of Caldecott Honor and Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Medal-winning Viva Frida, stunning bilingual bedtime story Little Night/Nochecita, Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas, Pura Belpré Honor Book (Narrative) Just In Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book, and other picture books for young readers. She also illustrated Thunder Boy Jr., written by Sherman Alexie, and Pura Belpré (Illustration) Medal and Pura Belpré (Narrative) Honor book Los Gatos Black on Halloween, written by Marisa Montes.
A Neal Porter Book
Written by Yuyi Morales:
Niño Wrestles the World
Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas
Viva Frida
Little Night / Nochecita
Illustrated by Yuyi Morales:
Los Gatos Black on Halloween (written by Marisa Montes)
Praise for Little Night/Nochecita:
NYPLC Children's Books 100
American Library Association Notable Children's Books
Miami Herald Best Books of the Year
NYPL Book for Reading and Sharing
Golden Kite Award Winner
"Children will delight in Little Night's dreamy world and will want to read about her unique, yet still familiar, nighttime ritual again and again." —Booklist, starred review
"Full-bleed spreads with luminous and rich hues of evening sky–blues, reds, and pinks–are painted in flowing sweeps of color, which illuminate and animate the glorious text. They are juxtaposed with the dark earth tones of cherubic Little Night and Mother Sky, and the effect is dreamlike and peaceful. A treasure for bedtime, or anytime." —School Library Journal
A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book
A 2015 Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award
Frida Kahlo, one of the world's most famous and unusual artists is revered around the world. Her life was filled with laughter, love, and tragedy, all of which influenced what she painted on her canvases.
Distinguished author/illustrator Yuyi Morales illuminates Frida's life and work in this elegant and fascinating book.
A Neal Porter Book
Señoras y señores, niños y niñas, the time has come to welcome the spectacular, two-of-a-kind . . . LAS HERMANITAS!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Las Hermanitas, Lucha Queens! Their Poopy Bomb Blowout will knock em' down! Their Tag-Team Teething will gnaw opponents down to a pulp! Their Pampered Plunder Diversion will fell even the most determined competitor!
But what happens when Niño comes after them with a move of his own? Watch the tables turn in this wild, exciting wrestling adventure from Caldecott Honor author Yuyi Morales, Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas.
A Neal Porter Book
Follow los monstruos and los esqueletos to the Halloween party
Under October's luna, full and bright, the monsters are throwing a ball in the Haunted Hall. Las brujas come on their broomsticks. Los muertos rise from their coffins to join in the fun. Los esqueletos rattle their bones as they dance through the door. And the scariest creatures of all aren't even there yet!
This lively bilingual Halloween poem introduces young readers to a spooky array of Spanish words that will open their ojos to the chilling delights of the season.
Los Gatos Black on Halloween is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year, the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Illustration and a Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative.
Anita′s Mama loves to sing. She sings such beautiful, happy songs that something magical happens-everyone who hears her music floats high above the ground. But then Mama stops singing. Can Anita find a way to bring back happy times and magical moments for her family?
Debut author Laura Lacámara′s lyrical, uplifting tale is paired with Yuyi Morales′s stunning art for a magical celebration of family, music, and happiness.