Las Comadres to Host October Conference for Latino Writers

Day-Long Event to Offer Experts, Insight into Publishing Industry Opportunities

Please join Las Comadres Para Las Americas, the national Latina organization, as we present a day-long conference on October 6 for Latino writers seeking more access into the publishing industry!

Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference will be held at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn.  Joining La Comadres as collaborators are the National Black Writers Conference, the Center for Black Literature, the Foreign Language Department and the Latino American Association, Full Circle Literary, Marcela Landres, and Scholastic, with support from the Association of American Publishers.

Through the workshops, panels and other sessions, writers will gain an insider’s perspective into how to best navigate the challenges and opportunities of the industry. 

A highlight of the day will be a full schedule of one-on-one meetings for writers with agents and editors.  Participants currently include Johanna Castillo, Vice President & Senior Editor/Atria, Simon & Schuster: Jaime de Pablos, Director/Vintage Español, Knopf Doubleday Group; Adriana Dominguez, Agent/Full Circle Literary; Mercedes Fernandez, Assistant Editor/Dafina Books, Kensington Publishing; Sulay Hernandez, Editor/Other Press; Cheryl Klein, Executive Editor/Arthur A. Levine Books; Selina L. McLemore, Senior Editor/Grand Central Publishing; Christina Morgan, Editor/Harcourt Houghton Mifflin; Lukas Ortiz, Managing Director/Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency, Inc.;  Diane Stockwell, Founder/Globo Libros Literary Management; and Stacy Whitman, Founder and Editorial Director/Tu Books.

Scheduled panels will examine magazines and literary journals, genres, poetry, children’s/young adult writing, fiction, non-fiction, publicity and self-publishing.  There will also be a session for authors to pitch their work and get instant feedback as well as an agents/editors panel.    

Keynote speaker is author and television personality Sonia Manzano.  Having originated the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street, Manzano wrote two children’s books, No Dogs Allowed (Simon and Schuster, 2004) and A Box Full of Kittens (Simon and Schuster, 2007), and will have her first YA novel, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, published by Scholastic in Fall 2012.

Registration for writers and vendors is now open for the conference.

Las Comadres is a nationwide grassroots-based group of Latinas launched informally in 2000 in Austin, TX. The national networks, created in 2003, have grown to over 100 US cities. Its 15,000 strong membership keeps Latinas connected via email networks, teleconferences, and monthly potluck events in individual cities.  In conjunction with the Association of American Publishers, it sponsors a national book club promoting the work of Latino authors and encouraging literacy.  The National Latino Book Club is currently celebrating its fourth year.

Join Me in Colorado Next Month!

What: 2012 Northern Colorado Writers Conference

When: March 30-31, 2012

Where: Fort Collins Hilton, Fort. Collins, CO.

In its seventh year, the Northern Colorado Writers Conference is the premiere writers conference in the region bringing in agents, editors and presenters from all over the county. The conference will share how you should take risks in your writing and find that path that is unique to you. Writing is an adventure with lots of ups and downs and forks in the road, but in the end, it is a journey to be enjoyed. The conference caters to writers of all level and genres by offering over 25 workshop choices. Plus there will be agent/editor pitch sessions, a bookstore and networking opportunities. Participants will walk away inspired and equipped with the tools needed to ensure writing success. Conference fee includes all meals, workshops, pitch sessions, and a preconference workshop on March 10. Visit http://www.northerncoloradowriters.com for more information.

If you can make it, join me! I would love to meet you in person! I am seeking writing and illustrating talent (Latino and otherwise) to add to my client list, and I don't go to as many conferences as I would like to, so please help me take advantage of this opportunity by coming if you can, or by spreading the word! See you in Colorado!

Creative Writing Workshop with Award-Winning Author, Reyna Grande

Full disclosure: Reyna Grande is one of my clients! Having said that, I think that this writing workshop with this award-winning author—whom, I also happen to know is exacting in the way she approaches her craft, and extremely generous with others—represents a fantastic opportunity for aspiring authors. The fact that the tuition is so affordable only adds to this workshop's appeal in my mind, so I just had to share, which is why I asked Reyna to send me the details and here they are:

What: Creative Writing Workshop with Award-Winning Author, Reyna Grande.
When: 4 Tuesdays, Nov. 1 to Nov. 22 @6:30pm
Where: Private residence, East Whittier (Los Angeles County)
Who: Anyone who is looking for a supportive environment, guidance, and encouragement.
How Much: $100.00 for four sessions

Contact Reyna Grande at reynagrande@gmail.com for more information about the classes. If you are working on a fiction or creative non-fiction project and are looking for feedback on your work, and/or would like to learn more about the craft of writing, then this class is for you! Space is limited!

About the Author:
Reyna Grande is the author of Across a Hundred Mountains (Atria), which received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and a Latino Books Into Movies Award. Her second novel, Dancing with Butterflies (Atria) was the recipient of a Latino Book Award. She is a sought-after speaker, educator, and event organizer. Visit her website at www.reynagrande.com

Help Found a Latino Bookstore in NYC's El Barrio!

I know that I have not posted in a while, and I apologize that my first post in some time comes with a request. But in fact, it is the importance of this request that has inspired me to get back to blogging, despite a packed schedule.

I just funded 'La Casa Azul Bookstore' on IndieGoGo. There is a video on the site that makes the case for this cause better than I ever could, and I encourage you to take a look. Aurora is a hard worker, to say the least, and I know that she will make this East Harlem LATINO bookstore just fabulous! I know that times are tough, but this is an important project for all of us who care so much about Latino literature. More distribution of our books means more readers, means more quality books written by Latino authors. We are all connected.

Check out the video, and contribute if you can, here:




And whether you contribute or not, please let others know about this campaign. Aurora is on a tight deadline; she has exactly two weeks from today to raise a total of $40,000. Why? Because if she does, an anonymous contributor will match that amount, dollar for dollar, and make her dream of opening a Latino Bookstore in East Harlem possible!

Join Me at the 2011 National Latino Writers Conference!

This truly is one of my favorite writers conferences. If you are a Latino writer and only attend one conference this year, I would suggest that this one should be it! I do hope I get to meet some of my readers there if you can make it. I will be participating on a panel and critiquing participants' work one on one. There are editors in attendance as well, so this conference represents a wonderful opportunity for those starting out to get some face to face time with folks in the industry. And the environment is friendly and supportive to boot! Registration is open for just a little while longer, so if interested, click on the image below and follow the instructions therein. See you in New Mexico! —Adriana

Note: Missing from the poster's list of editors is Selina McLemore from Grand Central Publishing. She was added later, and I do not have that version of the poster in the necessary format. But now you know!

Blog Tour for Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita

Writing Historical Fiction for Children

by Mara Price

Grandma’s Chocolate came about as a result of my childhood memories, and my curiosity about one of the great contributions of pre-Columbian America: delicious chocolate! I have many happy memories of being in my own grandmother’s kitchen, drinking chocolate and listening to stories about her childhood and the things she lived through. One of my passions has always been the history and archaeology of Mesoamerica. I wanted to know more about the origin and use of chocolate, and how it tied in with the ancient cultures. Thus, I started by giving myself the task of reading everything I could find on those subjects.

Looking back on my process, I think that the following questions might help new writers in the development of a work of historical fiction for children:

• Can my story be entertaining, and at the same time, carry a valuable message for children?
• Will historical elements in my story make it different from others conveying similar messages?
• Is it feasible to frame the message within a historical context, or to provide bits of historical information throughout the narrative?
• How much historical information is appropriate to include for the age range of the children who will read it?
• Do I have enough sustaining passion for the concept to lead me through my research on the topic, and throughout the entire writing process?

On Research:

• Read as much as you can, and your reading will show you the way the story can be developed.
• Have several initial questions to pursue, but be open to letting the information and the connections guide you. There are many wonderful surprises to be found while doing this kind of research, and discoveries in archeology and history are continuously being made.
• Don’t be afraid to ask. Primary sources are always the best. On several occasions, I contacted anthropologists and historians to get clarity on specific points. Some—though not all—were eager to help, and responded generously with new information.

Some challenges you might encounter during your research:

In my research on the pre-Columbian era, I was surprised to find how sparse the information, and how disparate the sources are on the topic. I also found large gaps of knowledge, frequent contradictions, and heated debates among scholars. An example of this is the seemingly easy question of why so many magnificent Mayan cities were abandoned virtually overnight, without clear indications of what happened, or where the people went. Researchers and academics still can’t agree on the answer.

On Writing:

I hope that your story is important enough to you to motivate you to get up every morning and start working; to look forward to your research and writing, and later, move you to keep up your blog and website, do book signings, presentations, workshops, and other promotional activities to give your book the best possible chance at success. The luckiest people have a job that doesn’t feel like work. This story has been that and more for me. —Mara.

This is the last stop of Mara Price's blog tour for Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita.

Please leave your comments below, as the author will give away a signed copy of the book to a reader of VOCES! At least four comments are needed within the next week to be eligible for Mara’s giveaway. One winner will be selected at random. Good luck, and we hope that you enjoyed the tour!

Check out Mara’s schedule or find more information about her at her website.

Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de abuelita is on sale now, so support Latino writing and go pick up your copy!

I WILL SAVE YOU by Matt de la Peña

One of my favorite Latino authors writing for young adults sent out a note a few days ago announcing the release of his latest novel, I Will Save You. Along with the note came what he called a "bizarre" letter that he wrote to potential readers and posted on his blog. Of course, I had to read the letter! Anyone who knows Matt will tell you that it is a good representation of who he is, and what he writes. I don't doubt that this actually happened to him, nor that he would be so thoughtful as to return the frog king to his rightful place in the world. I am sharing the letter with you in the hopes that it fulfills its intent and inspires you to pick up Matt's book. I can't wait to read it myself. If it's anything like his others, I know I won't be sorry. —Adriana

Dear Potential Reader:

This past Sunday I was playing ball in Brooklyn. A bunch of guys like me, older now, still trying to get to the rim or drain jumpers from the corner. At one point the ball rolled out of bounds and two dudes disagreed about who touched it last. Others joined in. Fingers were pointed. Things were said about people’s mothers. I stood back and watched the argument build and thought about the absurdity of our lives. All of us dressed up, dressed down, trying to be somebody, hoping they say good things when we’re not in the room. Like me, standing at half court all stressed out, wondering: Will anybody like my new book, I WILL SAVE YOU? It’s sad. Maybe people don’t like sad books. I like sad books, but I like sad everything – though technically I’m not a sad person.

Eventually the argument died down and we finished the game. But when I got home I was still stressed about my new book. And whether or not it would find a home. And then, for whatever reason, I thought back to a strange time in my life involving a porcelain frog . . .

When I was in grad school I was invited to a professor’s house to hear poet Tess Gallagher speak about her deceased husband, Raymond Carver. I was a first year MFA student in creative writing, and Carver was my favorite, so I was hyped. Before the event a few classmates and I stopped by the liquor store for bottles of wine and one of the girls called out to me from the passenger side window, “Hey Matt, grab a Pinot.”

“A what?” I said, turning around.

“A Pinot.” She frowned. “Pinot Noir?”

I waved her off and cruised in the store all ignorant. Back then there was no Pinot in my world. There was no Merlot or Chardonnay. There was simply red or white. I opted for the cheapest white, the cashier bagged it, I hopped back in the car and we zipped over to my prof’s house over an hour late.

The house was crowded, and when we walked in Mrs. Gallagher was already speaking so I snuck off to the back of the room, near the refreshments table. I listened to her talk for a few minutes, about Carver’s work space and his favorite writing jacket, but my mind quickly drifted. How did I get here? All the way to grad school. This fancy house listening to an actual published writer. I considered these things and drank the wine I brought. Cup after cup of it.

Halfway into the Q&A I realized I’d finished the entire bottle. And I was hammered. And I really had to pee. I put down my cup and made my way to the bathroom.

I locked the door behind me and then stood there, in front of the toilet, taking in the place: framed paintings on the walls, scented candles, fake tulips, potted cacti, and a small porcelain frog wearing a crown. Just what you’d expect to find in some stuffy professor’s bathroom. How predictable. No more than a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a bowl.

After I washed my hands I reached for the porcelain frog and spun it around in my fingers. I put it up to my nose and smelled it. What was with the crown? Why would anybody put this crazy thing on the back of their toilet? Was it some literary symbol I didn’t get? Without really thinking, I slipped the frog in my pocket, dried my hands and rejoined the party.

The rest of the night is a bit of a blur. I remember Mrs. Gallagher made her way around the room, talking to people – even me! I remember the professor offered to show one of the prettier female students his private art collection upstairs. I remember I discovered red wine. And then port. I remember feeling like an imposter as a group of us scanned the ceiling-high bookshelves in the dining room. My classmates commented on every author, their major works, the movement they fit into, the historical context in which they wrote. I was ignorant to almost all the names and said nothing.

Eventually I caught a ride home with my friend Rob who lived in a studio apartment directly underneath a busy flight path. My jeep was parked in front of his place, but I was in no position to drive, so I staggered up his stairs, watched him key open the door, then ducked into his nasty-ass bathroom where I was sick as a dog.

An hour or so later Rob knocked on the door to make sure I was still alive, but I was in no mood for his sympathy. “Go away,” I slurred. “Please. Just leave me alone.” I may have even cursed at him. The details are a bit murky now. I do know that I spent the majority of that night with my arms wrapped around another man’s toilet bowl – something I’m not super proud of.

The next morning I woke up disheveled, hung over and sickened by the thought of any color wine. I grabbed my backpack, flew out the front door, rumbled down the stairs, hopped in my jeep-with-no-top (it had literally blown off on the freeway a few months before) and headed for my apartment across town.

When I walked in the door, I threw the pack to the side and made a b-line for the bathroom. It was there, as I was preparing for a pivotal shower, that I discovered the porcelain frog still tucked deep inside my pocket. I pulled it out, spun it around in my fingers and placed it on the back of my own toilet.

I stared at it a few seconds. I’d never viewed myself as a porcelain frog type of guy, but here I was. I shrugged and stripped and hopped in the shower.

Days passed. Weeks. It was back to the old routine: fiction workshops, afternoon hoop in the gym, hours in the computer lab typing up my sad little stories.

The point is, life continued. The way it does. But every time I stepped foot in my bathroom, there was that regal frog, staring at me, pleading to me.

One morning it finally hit me. The back of my toilet was simply all wrong for this kind of frog. How long was I gonna try and keep up this charade? I scooped it up on my way out of the bathroom, shoved it back in my pocket and grabbed for the keys to my jeep. I drove to Rob’s house.

Before I said a word to him, I slipped into the bathroom and placed the porcelain frog on the back of his toilet. Positioned it dead center and wiped down the dusty space around him.

I pulled Rob into the bathroom and pointed.

We stood there in silence for a few seconds, both of us staring, arms folded.

Finally he spoke: “That the frog from the party?”

“That’s the one.”

He picked the frog up and looked at it. He spun it around in his fingers, then put it back down. “Dude, you hungry?” he said.

“Starving.”

We grabbed our stuff and set off for the local Rubio’s.

More time spiraled by. Months this time. (Isn’t it strange how time is forever moving? In Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, one of the main characters, Dunbar, explains it like this to his buddy: “‘Do you know how long a year takes when it’s going away? This long.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘A second ago you were stepping into college with your lungs full of fresh air. Today you’re an old man.’”) I wrote a twenty page research paper on Carver for my 700-level lit class. I saved enough money to book a flight to Spain to visit my girlfriend at the time. I had a small mass removed from under my left arm which proved benign. I believe I even learned how to play the game of chess, and whenever I lost I fought the powerful urge to flip over the board in frustration. All this stuff. It happened. But eventually I found myself standing in Rob’s bathroom, once again staring at the porcelain frog with the crown.

I had told myself, again and again, that the back of Rob’s toilet was perfect, it added some class to the joint, but I had it all wrong. Look at the poor thing, I thought. It’s all but naked without the framed paintings and potted plants of its past. Who was I kidding?

I snatched up the frog and shoved it back in my pocket, flew out of Rob’s house without a word, rumbled down his steps and hopped in my jeep-with-no-top.

Minutes later I was tiptoeing up my professor’s long driveway. I crept onto his porch, pulled the frog from my pocket and set it down in front of the expensive-looking welcome mat.

I stood there staring at it for a couple minutes (occasionally checking my back for Neighborhood Watch scouts). That’s when it came to me. This little porcelain frog may not have meant much in the context of most of our lives -- it was small, insignificant, a bit tacky -- but it belonged on the back of this professor’s toilet. That much was clear now. It had ventured out into this great big world, it had seen the insides of other bathrooms, stood guard while utter strangers brushed their teeth and combed their hair – and it was better off for those experiences – but at the end of the day, it belonged here, as the centerpiece of a scholar’s high-class bathroom. The crowning jewel. Who could appreciate it more than the man who had reached for this particular porcelain frog, plucked it off a shelf in some arts and craft store, while it was surrounded by what may have been hundreds, even thousands, of other tacky porcelain animals?

I waved goodbye to the frog, then got the hell out of there before somebody called the cops.

I don’t know. This probably has nothing to do with my new novel. I just felt like revisiting the short time I spent with the porcelain frog I stole from my professor’s house, then gave back.

Or maybe there’s a small connection somewhere in there. Maybe my main character, Kidd, is the frog, and when you (the reader) pick up the book and read Kidd’s story, you’re temporarily putting a roof over his head. Which would be a really nice thing to do because technically Kidd’s homeless. And alone. And sad. He needs all the help he can get.

Or maybe the novel is the frog and bookstores are the bathrooms, and I WILL SAVE YOU only gets a certain amount of shelf time (back-of-the-toilet time) before the store manager ships all unclaimed copies back to the publisher, which is basically like sending somebody to the hole in prison – an interesting connection considering that in the second chapter of I WILL SAVE YOU Kidd wakes up in solitary confinement and spends a good bit of time trying to figure out whether or not he deserves it.

Or maybe the connection is a more personal one. Maybe when you read one of my books you’re coming into my home, drunk on my wine, and sticking a small piece of me in your pocket (so much of these stories are pulled from my past). And maybe when you move me all around – from the table by your bed, to your office desk, to your padded computer bag – you’re giving me a small peek into your world. And maybe after you turn the last page you’ll even lend me to a friend, and I’ll get even farther in my travels. And ultimately you may even come to an epiphany similar to mine, and you’ll sneak up onto my front lawn, months from now, years even, and set that borrowed piece of me back on my welcome mat in the form of a letter, or an email, or a Facebook message, telling me what you think. That’s easily my favorite thing in the world. Just a week ago I received an instant classic from a kid in Oakland. His email read: “Yo! I ain’t a nerd or some shit. But I read all yer books. We Were Here is probably my all time best book. Even though you had that chick Flaca steal all Miguel’s money! LOL! Nah but I just wanted to say thanks for writing yer books. Peace!”

Made my day.

Failed analogy aside, I would be honored if you gave I WILL SAVE YOU a read. It really is kind of a sad book. But it’s hopeful, too. And it’s my heart.

Your friend,

Matt de la Peña

Guest Blogger: Award-Winning Children's Author René Colato Laínez

This guest post by René Colato Laínez is part of his blog tour in support of his latest book, From North to South. He offered to write on a topic that I know will be very useful to my readers: the dos and don'ts of writing a multicultural (or Latino-themed) children's book. I hope you find it helpful. Children's Book Press is giving away copies of the book at the end of the blog tour, so make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win your copy!

WRITING AUTHENTIC MULTICULTURAL BOOKS
By Award-Winning Author, René Colato Laínez


From North to South is my seventh book. In this story, José and his father travel from North to South to visit José’s mother in Tijuana, Mexico. Like José and his father, I have also traveled from north to south and east to west within the publishing world. During my journey, I have made many stops to help me learn the craft of writing at conferences, book festivals, critique groups, libraries, and bookstores. I have also met many people who have thanked me for writing multicultural books. Often, some of those same people ask me for tips on writing a multicultural story. This is my attempt at answering some of their questions:

What is a multicultural book?
A multicultural book reflects the experiences of diverse groups of people and promotes a greater understanding among cultures. These books authentically and realistically portray themes, characters, and customs unique to the group about which they are written, and give readers an opportunity to develop an understanding of others, as they affirm the important role that people of diverse backgrounds play in society.

How can I write a multicultural book?
Here are three of the most common mistakes made when attempting to write a multicultural picture book:

1. Relaying solely on a main character that is from the barrio, or who has Latin American roots.

Example:
A Latino child named Pedro lives in the barrio. He speaks Spanish and can draw beautiful cats. Pedro’s teacher gives him a sticker for his efforts.

What is multicultural about this story?
Pedro is a Latino child from the barrio and speaks Spanish. There might even be Spanish words in the story. But, ask yourself: What is the reader’s learning about Pedro’s culture?

This writing exercise never fails:
Change Pedro’s name. Maybe his name is now Joshua. Joshua lives in a non-ethnic neighborhood. He speaks English. And of course, he draws beautiful cats.

We have changed the name of the character and eliminated the Spanish words in the text. Does the story still work? Yes, it really has not changed at all! A multicultural story is more than a Hispanic character and a few Spanish words. The story must be unique and authentic. A foreign name, or dark skin color on a page are not enough to make a multicultural story.

2. My character eats beans and wears a sombrero. He also likes to break piñatas. Do I now have a multicultural book?

When writing a multicultural book, avoid stereotypes. Readers want to read stories that represent cultures in positive and respectful ways. Mexicans don’t generally go around wearing sombreros, and Caribbean women generally don’t dance with a bowl of fruit on their heads. On the other hand, Mexico is a country with a very rich history, wonderful traditions, and delicious food. The Caribbean has beautiful beaches, great music, and fantastic folktales. There are so many great things to tell about our cultures, why concentrate on stereotypes? Let’s write wonderful stories!

3. The other extreme: culture, culture, and more culture.

In order to create a multicultural story, authors often describe the cultural aspects of a story so much that they forget to create a plot! The result is a dry, boring story. An editor will definitely reject this type of story because it will not inspire readers to turn the page to read it. A story needs strong characters, a great plot, an extraordinary beginning, a great climax, and a convincing ending, as it exhibits aspects of the culture in question. Readers want an entertaining story first and foremost, regardless of its cultural elements. (Note: For Rene’s tips on writing picture books, see his previous post on VOCES.

Writing from Outside of the Culture
If you are writing outside of your culture, don’t ever write off the top of your head. If you have never lived in Mexico, China, or Morocco and want to write a story about those cultures, you will have to do extensive research in libraries, archives, and museums. But, by far, the best way to do this research is to meet the people you want to write about. Talk to them, participate in their games, visit their country, eat their food, become one of them while you are writing your story. Remember that it is always better to overdo your research. Later, you can choose the elements that will be most important to your story. Once you have finished your manuscript, show it to organizations and the people it is written about, and ask them to look for stereotypes and misconceptions. This will help you to avoid some of the pitfalls described above. Those who are the most passionate and involved with a culture are typically the best ones to write an authentic multicultural tale. With passion, comes the desire to spend hours and hours at the library, and with the people you are writing about. If there is no passion, there will be no truly authentic story to tell.

Good luck, and have fun writing a multicultural story!

Saludos,
René Colato Laínez

Latino Authors at New York’s Brooklyn Book Festival

Now in its fifth year, the Brooklyn Book Festival is one of the top book festivals in the nation with a hip, huge and free all-star literary lineup. The festival will be held tomorrow, September 12th, at BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

This year, Las Comadres para las Américas has teamed up with La Caza Azul Bookstore for their participation in the festival. The two will be sharing booth 131, and hosting book signings, making it easier for you to find many of your favorite Latino authors participating in the festival in one place! Check out some of the big names that will be signing at their booth:

AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING SCHEDULE

11:30 a.m. Cristina Garcia

11:50 a.m. Torrey Maldonado

12:10 p.m. Lemon Andersen

12:30 p.m. Alberto Ferreras

12:50 p.m. Ada Limon

1:10 p.m. Ana Galan

1:30 p.m. Daisy Martinez

1:50 p.m. Brando Skyhorse

2:10 p.m. Michelle Herrera Mulligan and Sofia Quintero

2:30 p.m. Esmeralda Santiago

3:00 p.m. Sandra Rodriguez Barron

3:20 p.m. Daniel Serrano

3:40 p.m. Dahlma Llanos Figueroa

4:00 p.m. Sergio Troncoso

For more information, visit Las Comadres' website.

Have fun at the festival, and say hello to folks for me! (Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this year, but I can guarantee that you will LOVE this event. It’s not to be missed!)

Pelé, The King of Soccer/ El rey del fútbol

If you are anything like me, you are suffering from a serious case of soccer fever at the moment, which makes this the absolute best time to enjoy this book with your kids!



Check out my previous post about the book for more information: http://adrianadominguez.blogspot.com/2009/01/update-and-some-shameless-promotion.html
Enjoy!