Drum Dream Girl Thank you Video

Wanted to share this thank you video I was asked to make for the American Library Association: Youth Media Awards. GRATEFUL that Drum Dream Girl written by Margarita Engle received the 2016 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration in this the 20th anniversary of the award. Thanks to readers, teachers and librarians for their support of our book.

Librarians take over Vegas!

!Viva Las Vegas and Books!

I've always been drawn to unusual juxtapositions and this past weekend 13,000 librarians, authors, illustrators, publishers, agents, teachers and book fans descended on Vegas for the ALA Convention.
Here's some photos to document the weekend.

At the 2014 American Library Association Conference I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with old and new friends, sign books and bring home a Pura Belpré honor for illustration of Tito Puente Mambo King, El Rey del Mambo.

Two exceptional women -Literary Agent Stefanie Von Borstel  and HarperCollins Senior Editor Rosemary Brosnan

I'm so grateful to the well organized, enthusiastic team at of our publisher Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins who artfully arranged every detail at the conference and made this book happen. Gracias Rosemary Brosnan, Patty Rosati and all of the dedicated individuals who crafted an unforgettable celebration. 

Friends at the Pura Belpré Party the night before

Pura Belpré honoree, extraordinary author Margarita Engle

Grateful to attend the Pura Belpré celebration with my amazing literary agent Stefanie Von Borstel of Full Circle Literary. Thanks to author Monica Brown and agent Adriana Dominguez who were there with us in spirit.

"In this vibrant, bilingual portrayal of Tito Puente, the King of Mambo, Rafael López conveys the rhythm and movement of this musical legend through the use of bold colors, swirly lines, and carefully placed word art".

Lastly to the Association for Library Service to Children/American Library Association's Pura Belpré Committee for their kind words and for recognizing this book I painted to pay tribute to a legendary musician.

Tito Puente Mambo King Wins Pura Belpré Honor from the American Library Association

Sunday started with a boat ride to Coronado Island with my son

Shorts and iced coffee on a January morning in San Diego

Sunday morning started with the ferry to Coronado Island for a bike ride with my son. I returned home to a call from Ruth Tobar the chair of the American Library Association Pura Belpré Committee. It was the best news imaginable...

Growing up I learned firsthand the life changing benefits of music. As a young child I was fascinated by the shapes of instruments. My uncle Ruben was a gifted guitar player and true bohemian.  He had a radio show at UNAM that introduced indigenous music from Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Cuba to local audiences. He was an  avid collector of vinyl records and at the time Paris was the mecca of world music. Ruben traveled and studied in France to grow his knowledge of music then shared that passion with others. My uncle taught me to play the guitar at a young age. I have fond memories of weekends where we played music together, poets would recite their work, painters would sketch and my mom's carne asada would fill the air with a delicious aroma. Intermixing with the sounds, exotic and complex, the music got inside me in the biggest way. The surprises I found inside a musical composition impacted me as a young visual artist.

That's me second from the left playing the charango.

For my son, we chose a public school,where parents and teachers believe in a dynamic art and music program.  It has made all the difference in Santiago's education. Now educators recognize that learning music helps support learning in other subjects. It can impact language development and strengthens the ability to communicate. Music helps you understand yourself and expands your world. I've always believed that every child deserves the chance to experience the life-changing benefits of music. If you learn to appreciate different genres of music you also learn to appreciate differences among people.
Happy this book dedicated to those who nurture love of music in public schools was recognized with a 2014 Pura Belpré Honor. I'm deeply grateful to the Pura Belpré committee, American Library Association, my friend writer Monica Brown, my agents Stefanie Von Borstel and Adriana Dominguez and Harper Collins for getting it out there. Thanks to Tito Puente Jr. for giving a thumbs up to the book. Tito Puente's music continues to fill my studio inspiring my paintings with rhythm and energy.
A big shout out to the other Pura Belpré winners, my friends Yuyi Morales for Nino Wrestles the World and Meg Medina for Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Congratulations to Duncan Tonatiuh and Angela Dominguez for their Belpré honors.

Mood board imagery I put together to inspire my sketches

It's a long way from start to finish and here
I'm exploring character development.

Using carbon paper to transfer my drawings to hand cut and sanded wood boards.

Painting the largest color area guides the rest of the color palette.

Final painting comes to life

Earlier sketch about Tito in the Navy

Earlier version evolve through editing and refinement.

One of the directions that only went as far as tracing tissue.

An earlier version that shows changes to Tito's mom in the finished scene below

Author Monica Brown wrote "Before he could walk, Tito was making music.
He banged spoons and forks on pots and pans, windowsills and cans."

Wanted to show the life of boys in Hispanic Harlem in the 20s.

Focused on composition with Tito at the apex.

Showcasing the fluid energy of his music.

His music filled the streets of New York.

Paying tribute to Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana and La Lupe who played with Tito.

Work to make everyday the best day of the year

Gracias!

I was asked to make a short video for the American Library Association: Youth Media Awards expressing my reaction to the good news about The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred winning a Pura Belpré Honor. It's all about drawing and thanks for checking it out here.

Who is Pura Belpré?

When I was a child growing up in Mexico City I remember my first experience traveling alone. Taking a rickety train to the metro station past colorful vendors who sold everything from comics and chicklets to medicinal herbs to cure a broken heart. Moving through an ocean of people I took the hour train ride to Zocalo station. Leaving the metro was like stepping back into another time, surrounded by Neo-Classical buildings on my way to the Hemeroteca, the city’s central library. Among the stacks there were ancient, sometimes dusty, heavy leather bound books. More than just words and pictures it was the grain of the paper, the smell and feel of the way a book ages that awakened my curiosity. On weekends my parents would take me to the Lagunilla flea market. I held my father's hand tightly as we searched for treasure. On these expeditions we got lost in our quest for old relics and discovered the magic of collecting books that other people left behind.

This morning I am once again reminded of my childhood passion for books as the American Library Association announces the 2012 Caldecott, Newberry, Coretta Scott King and Pura Belpré Awards for children's literature. Chasing down incredible picture books is something I do all year long and those early experiences in Mexico have left me most curious about Latino writers and illustrators. Over the years I've learned who to look for and I've been so fortunate to become friends with extraordinary and inspiring authors and artists.

Pura Belpré was a writer who re-interpreted Puerto Rican folk tales and was a gifted storyteller. She was the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York Public Library system who was genuinely effective in her efforts to reach out to the Puerto Rican community. Through her dedication the New York Public Library decided to acquire culturally relevant materials and connect to the Spanish speaking community.

In 2010 I got the gift of a lifetime by winning the Pura Belpré medal for illustration with Book Fiesta! written by Pat Mora. It's difficult to express what a defining moment the Pura Belpré was in my life. My mother Pillo flew from Mexico to Washington D.C. for the 2010 Pura Belpré ceremony and I will never forget the look on her face. Growing up she had taught me to believe in my dreams of becoming an artist. I realize how important it is to communicate the important message to children that their aspirations can become reality. The incredible works of gifted artists and writers who make children's books affirm and celebrate that anything is possible. My thanks goes out to the librarians, teachers, parents and volunteers who day in and day out turn the pages of books and help make the words and pictures come to life.

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. The 2012 Author Award went to Guadalupe Garcia McCall for her mesmerizing book Under the Mesquite. The story recounts the experience of 14 year old Lupita, growing up in a bicultural community in Texas while dealing with her mother's terminal cancer.

Bravo to the 2012 Author Honor books: Hurricane Dancers: The First Carribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle and Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza.

The 2012 Pura Belpré for illustration went to Duncan Tonatiuh for his amazing book Diego Rivera: His World and Ours. Using artful digital collage his illustrations have elements of Mayan art and juxtapose the past with contemporary Mexican time. Duncan also lives part time in my other hometown, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Way to go Duncan, I'm sure the fireworks are going off over the parroquia tonight.

The 2012 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Books include Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match written by my friend Monica Brown with playful mixed media illustrations by Sara Palacios.

I'm thrilled to report that our book The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred written by the kind and clever Samantha Vamos picked up the other illustration honor. I can't imagine a more wonderful team then working with Samantha and our insightful friends at Charlesbridge, Susan Sherman, Donna Spurlock, Lily DeSisto, Yolanda Scott and Lili Cohen. My warm thanks to the Pura Belpré Committee for these generous words describing Cazuela.

Nothing is better than a delicious bowl of arroz con leche unless, of course, a host of farm animals have a hand in the preparation! Lopez's blazing illustrations for the rhythmic, rollicking cumulative tale, "The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred" radiate a cheerful exuberance and are peppered with Latino cultural details that extend Vamos' perky narrative.

Thanks to all those who believed in and supported The Cazuela especially the kids who wrote to let me know they plan to grow up to be an artist one day. The color that comes to mind when I think of your letters is vibrant, radiant yellow. Your drawings and words help me preserve the spirit of my own childhood, reminding me to live a life full of wonder.