Alejandria Fights Back- Cover process

 

What up? This is a bit of process behind the cover for "Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria". 

First let's start with the sketches. I usually do a bunch of sketches in my sketchbook or on paper. I think I did that too. But these are the first I presented to what was a huge team effort. Normally when you make a kids book you have 1-2 people to answer to. Thats either the author/creator or the art director. In this case I was working with a team of filmmakers and organizers called the "Rise home Stories Project" who initiated this project, writer Leticia Hernandez-Linares, and the team at Feminist Press (Lauren Rosemary Hook, Jisu Kim, and designer Drew Stevens. The book was translated by Dr Carla España.

The next round was refining these sketches a bit.

They picked the one at the podium and thats the one I really nailed down. 

After nailing it down I went straight into painting the cover because the team was pretty loose with the art direction even though it was BIG. Here's some of the painting process for the front cover. It was painted with watercolor. I start with an over all warm tone and focus where Ale (main character) was the focal point. Then I started to add color to the characters.

Here's the final front cover painting w/ text on another layer drawn with ink.

Here's a bit of the back cover sketches

They chose the one with a few things scattered around which was directly inspired by Dawud Anyabwile's "Brotherman Revelations" back cover. Here it is painted.

And add the back matter (synopsis, logo, isbn scan) and the front cover design w/ type.

Love this book like so many of my others. If you're not familiar with the storyline check out this video

You can get a copy of the book from your local bookstore, library, bookshop.org, or Feminist Press.

Did you like this? Check out my most recent book "Somos Yoga/ We are Yoga" written and published by Jill Guerra an author, teacher, and mindfulness/yoga instructor for kids.

Alejandria Fights Back read en Español

 

Hey fam, if you have seen the reading of Alejandria Fights Back in Español by the books translator Dr Carla España please watch it here. This book came out last summer and his been making the rounds via reviews and classrooms. If you know of any educators who would dig hearing or sharing a Spanish reading of the book please share this with them.

Want a reading in English? watch elementary school teacher Mr Limata read it here

Skip to the 11:45 min mark for the reading.

And if you haven't seen the trailer please check it out:

School visit: Alejandria Fights back

 

This is an image from a school visit to a school in Oakland. Organizer Heather Appel (masked and standing in the rear) and myself read to this huge group of students wearing our masks and it is never not fun to share stories like Alejandria Fights Back with kids. 

If you haven't seen the book trailer , check it out here:

If you are a school teacher who would like to get a copy of the book or some resources for it check out the website: www.alejandriafightsback.com/

Video: Book trailer - Alejandria Fights back!

 

If you missed it this is the book trailer for Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria which came out last summer. This is a book published by Feminist Press in NYC and written by Leticia Hernandez-Linares and the Rise Home Stories Project; and illustrated by me. 

Please watch the trailer and check out the other projects from this team such as a video game, animated short, podcast, and more HERE

If you're an educator and you'd like to get a copy of the book there are limited free copies here.

Latinxs In Kid Lit Interview

 

Recently me and Leticia got on Latinxs in Kid Lit to interview each other and talk a bit about the making of this picture book. Its an audio piece so go to the blog and give it a listen! Shout out to Cindy from the blog for giving us a space to talk.

A few years back some of my work was featured on Latinxs in Kid Lit:

Pura Belpre illustration

Furqan's First bilingual picture book

Video: SFPL Reading

 

Hey fam, heres a video recording of myself and author Leticia Hernandez-Linares reading "Alejandria Fights Back!" 

If you want the teachers guide, coloring sheets, or resources about housing check out AlejandriaFightsBack.com

Book review: At Home Librarian

Yo, we got a review by Tibby Wroten who runs the "At Home Librarian" blog where she reviews a diverse array of kid lit so parents, librarians, booksellers, and book lovers can learn about cool new books. Check it out HERE.

Here's a quote from the review:

"the book is a roadmap of sorts or how kids and adults can take steps to protect their communities. While this story is particular to gentrification, the ideas behind organizing community are the same no matter what issue you take on. I also really appreciate the ideas presented here around organizing the people around you to show up to City Hall to speak at council meetings and also getting plugged into organizations working specifically on the issue at hand. Most books for kids that talk about “activism” are about making signs and showing up at marches they didn’t organize."

And if you check out this link, you can see some other books of mine that she's reviewed.

 

Reading at Greenlight Books

 

Coming up later on August 28th, I'll be reading with Leticia Hernandez-Linares and organizer/Rise Home Stories team member Heather Appel. We'll be doing a virtual reading for Brooklyn's Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene and Prospect Lefferts Garden. Wanna tune in? Register HERE.

Stay tuned to Brookline Smith Bookstore's YouTube to see the reading we did with them.

Alejandria Fights Back is OUT TODAY!

 

TODAY is the day fam, please check out my video introducing "Alejandria Fights Back" written by Leticia Hernandez & The Rise Home Stories Project, translated by Profesora Dr Carla España , and pub by Feminist Press in NYC.

This project "Alejandria Fights Back" was a collaborative one for the books. Got to work with filmmakers and organizers in the Bay Area, Michigan, North Carolina, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Georgia, and the publisher is in NYC. It has been a ride and there are some videos, posts, etc to come.

Its hella different doing a virtual book release y'all. So I appreciate any and all support. Shout out to Josh Healey who said "I think you should apply to this" He was right! Here's the synopsis:

Here is the book trailer:

Please watch and share it!

If you missed it, check out the features on Social Justice Books and Rethinking Schools.

Rethinking Schools feature for Alejandria

 

Yo, this just in, my new book "Alejandria Fights Back" got a mention in the new "Rethinking Schools" magazine. If you're not hip, this magazine has been around since the mid 80s in Milwaukee by educators. They saw that the history books they had at the time were wack (still are, but getting better) and they decided to compile lessons for the babies involving ethnic studies, what would today be excluded as critical race theory, and social justice. As a trusted source by educators all over the US, and internationally. So, suffice to say this nod in the form of a feature is BIG and I have so much respect. If you want to get a physical or digital copy go here.

I was fortunate enough to do some artwork for the magazine many moons ago, peep that here. And shout out to AD Nancy Zucker! If you missed the post about Social Justice books, peep that here.

Video! - Alejandria Fights Back & Highlights Fundation!

 

Had a chance to talk to Feminist Press, part of my team on the Alejandria Fights Back/La Lucha de Alejandria book, and members of the Highlights Foundation (remember the magazine?). You can preorder the book here. If you're a book blogger and want a review copy, hit me up. 

If you missed my previous post announcing the book, please check that out here.

SF State Features Alejandria Fights Back & Leticia Hernandez-Linares

 

Here's an article featuring my new book Alejandria Fights Back with some quotes from Leticia Hernandez-Linares. We both went to San Francisco State University and Leticia is a professor there now!! 

Check it out HERE.

And if you missed my last post about this new picture book created with The Rise Home Stories Project please see the previous posts here

Social Justice Books Feature

Book announcement

Alejandria Fights back featured on "Social Justice Books"

 

    Yo, this is pretty amazing to make it to the front of the NEW books page on Social Justice Books' site! If you didn't already know SJB is one of the biggest and most organized sites for both diverse and progressive minded books in kid lit for kids pre school aged up until high school and college. PLEASE do me a favor and subscribe to their newsletter, follow them, check out their many book lists, and support them! This is especially true for all those who ask, where are the diverse books? or Where are the socially conscious books?

That being said, I want to givce a BIG shout out to Teaching For Change who are the organizers behind the Social Justice Books site. Thank you for championing books and educators trying to teach the babies. And please keep an eye out for Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria when it comes out. You can preorder the book here. And check out my previous post about the book here.

PS: If you look closely you can see a second book on the 2021 new bks page that I illustrated by this awesome lady.

Video: Rise Home Stories Project

 

Rise Home Stories Project is a cohort of 5 projects (Video Game, Animated series, Podcast, Kids bk, Interactive game) including my book "Alejandria Fights Back" is one of them. The project was funded by the ford Foundation and involves several partnerships such as my book's partnership with Feminist Press. Check out the video!

If you missed my post about Alejandria Fights Back please check it out here.

Press for Alejandria Fights Back!

 

Fam, as some of you saw my new picture book Alejandria Fights Back is coming out this summer, and I wrote a little bit about it here. But check this out, Leticia (the author along w/ Rise Home Stories Project) got a write up in Mission Local newspaper! 

Read the article HERE.

And if you're interested you can preorder your copy here.

Also, if you're in SF this Sunday, bring your babies to come hear the book read by Leticia and Me!

NEW Book! - Alejandria Fights Back!

Peace fam, so for the past 2 years almost I've been working on a new bilingual picture book for older elementary school kids and their families and I want to begin sharing some more about it with you so you're familiar with it. And I'm excited because I just got the actual book in my hand and it looks amazing! I really hope you all dig it.

Here's the synopsis of the story: For nine-year-old Alejandria, home isn't just the apartment she shares with Mami and her abuela, Tita, but rather the whole neighborhood. Home is the bakery where Ms. Beatrice makes yummy picos; the sidewalk where Ms. Alicia sells flowers with her little dog, Duende; and the corner store with friendly Mr. Amir.

But lately the city has been changing, and rent prices are going up. Many people in el barrio are leaving because they can no longer afford their homes, and "For Sale" signs are popping up everywhere. Then the worst thing happens: Mami receives a letter saying they'll have to move out too.

Alejandria knows it isn’t fair, but she's not about to give up and leave. Join Alejandria as she brings her community together to fight and save their neighborhood!

The book is bilingual in English and Spanish, its about an Afro Latina and her family, and true to the title its about standing up for your rights!! It is published by Feminist Press in NYC and will be officially out early August, but you can preorder the book now here via Marcus Books' Bookshop LINK

The book was written by author and poet Leticia Hernández-Linares and a team of creatives and organizers called The Rise Home Stories Project. It was translated by Dr Carla España. In the coming months you'll hear more about the book and the suite of projects coming from RHSP. In the mean time follow us on social media and go to the books website for more info coming up....

alejandriafightsback.com

Yo, if you're a blogger, book reviewer, journalist, etc and you want to review it-get at me. If you missed the interview the creators of the book did with the Ed Collaborative, check that out here.