6th Annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair

 

Hey fam, it's that time of year! The 6th annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair" is upon us. As one of 5 organizers (Laura Atkins, Alejandra Domenzain, Peter Limata, Janine Macbeth, Innosanto Nagara, and me)  I'm excited to invite local kids book makers to share their latest and greatest books with local families, librarians, book sellers, teachers, organizers, and more. While some cringe at the title I know we're proud to bring together authors and illustrators who are progressive minded to one spot so the folks who actually search for their kind of books can find them all in one event. Board books, picture books, middle grade, YA, comics, and more. Check out the flyer I did :)

For this fair we encourage Bipoc, Queer, and Social justice minded kids book creators to table, sometimes read, or perform., and meet their community. This year it will be held again outside in Berkeley Ca. Please invite your folks to this event and check out these links for more info.

FACEBOOK Invite
EVENTBRITE Invite

Dig this? If you've never been check out some photos from previous years or the online fair we did during the pandemic w/ the help of Lydia and Peter of "Storytime w/ Mr Limata"!

Video: Furqan's First read en Español

 

Hey folks, I realized it had been more than a year since I uploaded an English reading of my book. So here is a Spanish reading of "Furqan's First Flat Top/ El Primer Corte de Mesita de Furqan". Enjoy and feel free to share with Spanish teachers, bilingual students, etc. 

LINK TO WATCH

Where to purchase the book: My Shop

If you need more than 5 copies please email me at info@robdontstop.com

Bilingual book mark set updated

 

Here is an updated image for this set of bilingual bookmarks. You can cop a few or a set for a whole classroom. Go here!

If you're a bilingual parent, Spanish teacher, bookstore owner, or librarian check out this set of READ prints as well. 

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.

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.

Video: Together In the Struggle w/ "Alejandria Fights Back"

 

Earlier this month I got a chance to talk with Dr Carla España and Dr Luz Yadira along with my co-conspirators in making Alejandria Fights Back" a new picture book I completed with writer Leticia Hernandez-Linares, the Rise Home Stories Project, and Feminist Press. The book will officially be out in August but we're already starting to talk about it. In fact, listen to this talk with the Doctora's and "The Ed Collab Gathering" where me, Mike Leyba (Rise Home Stories Project) , and Leticia chop it up.

For more info about the book go to https://www.alejandriafightsback.com/ or follow Rise Home Stories Project on Instagram.

Booklandia Coloring sheets

Big shout out to bilingual book box "Booklandia" for including some of my artwork as a coloring sheet for kids in their recent book boxes. Booklandia was founded by Maceo Cabrera-Estevez in Oakland California to send picture books, middle grade, and young adult kids books to parents and educators across the world. This company is very special because it seeks to share books that feature children of all colors in English and Spanish. Check them out. Here is some more artwork.

And the original image from my bookplate!

Bookplates here

One of a kind, like me 7 - Latinxs in kid lit/ At home librarian

More reviews for One of a kind, like me"

Latinxs in Kid Lit 

is a book blog hat focusing on Latinx centered stories and bilingual books. Please check them out, they have YA, Middle grade, and picture books there. And this is the fourth or fifth time I've gotten to be featured in some way on their blog. Love them! Subscribe to their blog.

At Home librarian 
is an awesome blog run by one mom who is passionate about books in general and very passionate about diverse books coming from a lot of different backgrounds. Please check out her review and all the other books she talks about.

For those of you new to the book, One of a kind like me is a picture book written by Laurin Mayeno and illustrated by me Robert Liu-Trujillo. Here is the synopsis of the story: Tomorrow is the school parade, and Danny knows exactly what he will be: a princess. Mommy supports him 100%, and they race to the thrift store to find his costume. It’s almost closing time. Will Danny find the costume of his dreams in time? One of A Kind, Like Me / Unico como yo is a sweet story about unconditional love and the beauty of individuality. It’s a unique book that lifts up children who don’t fit gender stereotypes, and reflects the power of a loving and supportive community. The book is written by Laurin Mayeno, illustrated by Robert Liu-Trujillo, and translated by Teresa Mlawer.

And you can purchase it here at Blood Orange Press

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 18- Latinxs in Kid Lit

Got an awesome book review from the good folks over at Latinxs in Kid Lit. If you haven't seen their site please go and check out the many sections and reviews they have highlighting Latinx authors/illustrators and their books. Check it out eh? Shout out to Sujei!!

LINK

Also, yo please check out the Latinxs in Kid Lit 2016 best books, Furqan's First is on the list among some OGs in the business/community. 

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 10- Univision TV interview

I was on UNIVISION 19 (TV Channel) in Sacramento today thx to Univision and the teachers from my son's school. Was nervous as hell, but managed to mumble through it ok. Hopefully just 1 parent who might identify w/ "Furqan's First Flat Top" saw it. For that I would be thankful. Please watch here.

Yo estaba en la canal Univision 19 hoy en Sacramento. Gracias a Univison y las maestras de la escuela de mu hio por este oportunidad. Yo estaba bien nervioso, pero yo puedia hablar...mas o menos. Espero que una mama o papa lo vi y puede identificar con "El Primer corte de Mesita de Furqan". Por eso yo estaria agradecido. Por favor, ver lo aqui.

You can purchase the book at FurqansFirst.com

Tu puedes comprar el libro aqui en FurqansFirst.com

UPDATE: The book is currently sold out, but check out Alejandria Fights Back/La Lucha de Alejandria by Leticia Hernandez-Linares and "Rise Home Stories Project" or We are Yoga/Somos Yoga by Jill Guerra; both of which I illustrated.

Dig this? I was once featured in Mother Magazine as one of 30 Black illustrators of kids books! Además, here's an interview I did with writer/poet Leticia Hernandez-Linares on Latinxs in Kid Lit about our book "La Lucha de Alejandria/ Alejandria Fights Back".

A Bean and Cheese Taco Birthday-Illustrated by Robert Trujillo

Wow, it was more than ten years ago that I started on the path of becoming an illustrator of picture books for children and adults. I was reading a story to my son and thought, I could do a story that he would like. I had been sending postcards, emails, and artwork to publishers like Arte Publico for years before I got a message returned. I would say that it is important not to wait for publishers now because I am also self publishing Furqan's First Flat Top, but it was nice to know that persistence with Arte Publico paid off.

I want to give a huge thank you and shout out to Adelaida over at Arte Publico/ Piñata Books for trusting me with this task of illustrating such a beautiful story by writer Diane Gonzalez Bertrand. Please look out for the book in your local store or library and request it if they do not have it. This is my second children's book in print! So blessed. Check out some of the photos of me opening the box and some original sketches/paintings from the book. This is the first children's book I ever illustrated , before Furqan's First and I am Sausal Creek, so it is very special to me. It symbolizes my entry into the field as an official children's book illustrator.

About the story: The story is about two brothers Dario (big brother) and Ariel (little brother). It's Ariel's birthday and he wants a simple birthday party. But his big brother wants to convince Ariel to ask for more, but all Ariel really wants is to play, hang out, and eat bean and cheese tacos at the park. The birthday gets better as the day progresses and Dario finds out that a taco and bean cheese birthday is not so bad after all.

Purchase the book through Arte Publico or Amazon

Please fill out this form to purchase the book

I am Sausal Creek-Post 1 (PubSlush Launch)

Hello everybody, I have been working on this book since the beginning of the fall last year. I met Melissa Reyes through some mutual friends and family many years ago and I was immensely excited and inspired to begin work on this project when my TYS crew mate Cece recommended me to the to illustrate it. To my great surprise Melissa checked out my work and wanted me to work on the book! Tiiight! Immediately after reading the story I knew I wanted to work on it because unlike so many other kids books, it was not only informative but a smooth read (not too much, not too little)!

I started thumbnails, sketches, etc for this book many months ago and have gone through every phase except painting, which I'm doing now literally. Melissa has an incredible, beautiful, well written story that will be invaluable to children, educators, and parents once it is completed. Not only does it help educate about environment and history, but it also tells of a rich local history here in Oakland California. The creek that the book is about is still flowing and still supporting life and laughter. Not only that but it is supported by an awesome team called Nomadic Press, and is translated by a local organizer/parent by the name Cinthya Muñoz. 

I can't wait to see this book in schools and on shelves everywhere, please check out the video and see some sneak peaks at some of the drawing and painting for the book "I am Sausal Creek/ Yo soy El Arroyo Sausal".

LINK to support