Hi there! I’m Juana and I’m a children’s author illustrator.
Do you have a new and exciting project? Let’s talk!

I am the author “Alma and How She Got Her Name” (Candlewick Press), winner of the 2019 Caldecott Honor, and illustrator of “La Princesa and the Pea” (written by Susan M. Elya, Putnam/Penguin), winner of the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration.

The essence of ALMA, which has autobiographical elements, is “we are everyone that came before us, and at the same time, we are uniquely ourselves.” Candlewick Press acquired the book in a seven publisher auction and published in simultaneous English-and Spanish-language editions. Read More…

Featured From The Blog

ALMA Releasing in Two Weeks

Mar, 29 2018
By juana
Featured, books
3 comments

I’m waking up my blog for Spring, and to share some wonderful and amazing news! I just received my author’s copies of Alma, my first picture book as an author and illustrator! This can only mean that the book is coming out very soon!

Alma will release from Candlewick Press on Tuesday, April 10th – less than 2 weeks from today in a simultaneous English and Spanish release. Alma and How She Got Her Name and Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre will be out in the world so soon! You can read a little bit about Alma in a previous post I wrote announcing that the book had been sold.

How to Put a Children’s Illustrator Portfolio Together

Spring is finally here and that can only mean Conference Season has started!

With that in mind, I thought I would write a Blog Post Series about The Craft of Portfolio Making.

Today we will focus on the making of the Physical Portfolio. We will be talking materials and how to best present your work for a Portfolio Show or a face-to-face Meeting. When we are done (post purchases and put-togethers) you will be walking around town with a new portfolio under your arm. Let’s get started!