Mural Making

Had fun last week making the first of two COASTERRA murals for the Cohn Restaurant Group and this time lapse video.

Beating the Drum for Women's Rights

Grateful for the KIRKUS interview Julie Danielson did with Margarita Engle and I about the creation of DRUM DREAM GIRL. She is a fantastic writer who interviews and features the work of authors and illustrators at her blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. This is a children's literature blog focused on illustration and picture books-something I am passionate about. In a 2011 interview at Seven Impossible Things I had the chance to chat with Jules and had a lot of fun talking about my take on children's book illustration. This blog is such a great resource and I really enjoy reading about the approach of other illustrators.

All Dreams start with a Dreamer

I've been dreaming about the release of DRUM DREAM GIRL and today a new book was born. Thanks to author Margarita Engle and our young heroine Millo Castro Zaldarriaga for believing in dreams.

The journey from Margarita's poetic words to the birth of this book has lasted almost two years. Here's to Millo, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who had the courage to break Cuba's traditional barrier against female drummers. When she was just fifteen she played her drums for first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and President Roosevelt. In the 1930s she went on to become a world class musician playing with American jazz greats of her era.

This book teaches children to not conform to gender stereotypes and follow the path of their hearts. GRATEFUL for the opportunity to be a storyteller.

Drum Dream Girl Video Book Trailer

Excited to post the video book trailer for DRUM DREAM GIRL due out March 31, 2015 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. What an opportunity to create this video to share her story. Looking forward to getting our book in the hands of children, teachers and librarians.

Grateful to Margarita Engle for writing this poetic story, inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers in the 1930s.

Poster Image for San Miguel Writers' Conference and Literary Festival

Mariachis like their Macs

San Miguel Walks