It’s been a while, hasn’t it? There’ve been many changes happening over on my side. This past August, I resigned from my full-time position as Associate Professor of English and transition to an adjunct role. I’ll still be teaching, but I’ll be doing so in a fully online, part-time capacity, which is the right move for my health and my family. Still, it’s been an interesting transition period. I’m still trying to find my new rhythm.
But it’s also been an exciting few months! On July 15, my second children’s book, Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, released!
It’s been received so wonderfully. It received a starred review from School Library Journal and it was even on TV, on NBC10’s Page Turner segment! You can find out all the love Isabel and Her Colores is receiving here. Illustrated by Courtney Dawson and published by Sleeping Bear Press, the story follows Isabel as she starts school without knowing how to speak English. Ultimately, her artistic personality and her love of colors allow her to bridge the language barrier and make friends. Isabel and Her Colores Go to School is a bilingual story, with the text on the page in both English and Spanish. I translated the story, and while it was challenging, I’m incredibly proud of how it turned out!
But that’s not all. I found out in May that Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! was a finalist in the 2021 International Latino Book Awards, in the Mariposa Awards Best First Book Children & Youth category! The awards ceremonies are happening on October 16-17, when I’ll find out whether it won bronze, silver, or gold. There are so many incredible authors listed in these awards, and it’s exciting and an honor to be among them.
As if that wasn’t enough good news, the announcement for my debut middle grade novel went live! I get to continue publishing books for kids, this time for ages 8-12! The middle grade fantasy will follow twelve-year-old Valentina Mejía and her brother as they discover that all the legends from their dad’s stories are true in their attempt to get back home and save Papi.
It’s been an exciting summer full of change and possibility, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next. In the meantime, I’ll be in my editing and grading cave, doing the work. See you on the other side!
Alexandra Alessandri 