The importance of HUMOR in Picture Books, and a Pura Belpré Award, too!
The importance of HUMOR in Picture Books, and a Pura Belpré Award, too!
Plus a recap of my first ALA conference!
First off, as promised, here is my full speech at the awards ceremony for my
Pura Belpré Illustration Honor!
Speeches provide an opportunity to sing about something important to you to a wide audience. So I sang LOUDLY about the importance of humor in children’s books, as it is too often overlooked at awards time!
And thats a hard thing as awards can bring books to a huge number of kids!!
Humor can be just as successful as drama at approaching difficult subjects , if not more at times. I'm so grateful to be a creator who sees humor in life easily.
As humor has carried me through my difficult times, and I hope to make many books that can carry many kids through their own difficult times.
Now on to my adventures there, and I must say… I definitely recommend winning an ALA award for your first ALA conference! 😎
Below are some of my favorite moments from ALA 2024 in San Diego!
Day 1
A spontaneous car ride from the airport with one of my FAVORITE fellow Austin authors Anne Wynter! (Neither of us brushed our teeth.)
Watching my kids climb trees before, and after the Writers House Party in La Jolla! Bonus points for the best strawberry lemonade!
Day 2
Attending a Cafecito hosted by Latinx in Publishing, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel who represents so many creators I adore! Was feliz to finally meet Joanna Cárdenas there from my wonderful publisher Kokila, and breathe concha crumbs all over her.
Ran into my beloved Chocolate Cake Connoisseur Ruth Chan,
and my very first Editor Calista Brill!
Honestly, the funnest part of ALA is meeting up with so many amazing illustrator/author/publishing friends!
Then happened upon the amazing co-creators of Sunday Ha-ha Jen de Oliveira and Mika Song! Plus met the super sweet Illustrator/Author Kim-Hoa Ung
We all admired my latest book coming out soon!!
Just KIDDING! It was a random book we found near us.
But, if I DID make a ‘Diary of George Washington’ book, it would definitely look like the below.
(Feel free to email my Agent with future inquiries, as he LOVES emails about books he has no idea about!)
Drawing with my kids, and snacking on Ube cream puffs at the Astra Celebracion dinner for Papá’s Magical Water Jug Clock!
Talked to brilliant author, and legendary over-achiever Dan Santat who told me how the Caldecott winner usually gifts items to the committee. AND decided to spontaneously paint Thank You Cards for the Pura Belpré awards committee that evening after a stop at ye ole’ Blick.
Day 3 AWARD DAY!!
Woke up, and did another layer of paint before I headed to breakfast!
These Chilaquiles were the only time I cried that day, and I MEAN HOW COULD I NOT?! SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!
Came back, and added pencil lines to the cards with my make-shift light window!
Barely made it to the award ceremony in time, as this kid kept tripping over all the ribbons they had added to their badge.
One of my kids ran up, and took this picture of me once I was seated. It was windy on that walk over if you’re curious about my hair.
I should of used some of those ribbons!
I AM THE WINNER
…oh and there are a bunch of others, too! Seriously, check out all the amazing 2024 Pura Belpré books. You will not be disappointed.
Wahhhhh! I texted my Editor Maria Russo, Art Director Amelia Mack, and Agent Stephen Barr here as I suddenly got very sad they were not with me, but all sent me lots of Congratz.
This look between me, and my author Jesús Trejo here…with each of our respective awards…sighhhhhhh.
I mean..I would of been sooo sad if he hadn’t gotten an award as well with me!
It really hit me how important it is in PICTURE BOOKS
to honor
both AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR for the awards!
There was a special moment as well at this year’s Caldecott Awards that acknowledged this very issue when illustrator Molly Mendoza pulled her author Aida Salazar on stage with her!!
Aida puts it perfectly in her instagram post…
“Molly made the most thoughtful (and radical) gesture in bringing me up as they received the Caldecott honor because the award is only for illustrators.”
And Molly said on her instagram as well…
“I want to thank Aida Salazar for writing this incredible book, for introducing Jovita to the world, and for being an inspiration and force in my life. This award is yours too - Jovita would not be the book it is without the synergy of both you and I which is why I’m so happy you took my hand and walked on stage with me to share in this triumphant moment.”
Which I came away from the ALA awards with the below thought…
We as illustrators, and authors are in this TOGETHER,
to make the best possible picture books TOGETHER.
HONOR US TOGETHER.
Ok, now that you’re done crying….
Check out this amazing sign that legendary illustrator/author Bethany Barton made me!!!
OH, and did I mention the DANCING at the Pura Belpré Celebration!! I had to have someone tie me to my chair, so I would not jump up, and join all the beautiful children dancing to celebrate us!
And they came afterwards to our signing as well!! AHHHHHHHH!
(Hold it together, ELIZA! DO NOT BREAK INTO DANCE…)
Afterwards, we hustled to a second signing at the Astra booth for our newest book Mamá Magnificent Dancing Plantitas! Which Publishers Weekly talked about below, but failed to mention the excellent faces I make as I sign books!
THEN, I started my new life walking everywhere with my sign, and award!
And ended the evening dancing with Jesús’s REAL Papá at the Reforma Gala Fundraiser! A cherry on top for a magical day, and check out his Chucks! (TOO COOL FOR SKOOL!)
Day 4
Totally dead from the day before, but I managed to get up, and finish my cards. Then met Jesús to have him sign them all with me before the Pura Belpré Brunch!
Officially one of the hardest working illustrators in the businesssss!!!!
EAT YOUR HEART OUT, DAN!
(And then draw yourself doing it, and make it into 3 PBs, and a graphic novel in a week, Dan.)
A well earned breakfast happened afterwards with amazing authors, librarians, and friends! BUT NOT ENOUGH STICKY BUNS!!!
Finally, all the Pura Belpré Committee, and Award Winners all together!
(Except Andrea, who we missed dearly!! Go buy her book asap!)
Then I was done!! DONE DONE DONE!!
And rewarded myself by taking my kids to the beach for the rest of the afternoon. My apologies to the Uber driver for not bringing a change of clothes for the ride back to the hotel! As YIKES!!
You can preorder, Jesús and my latest book in Spanish or English below!! Yay!
I’ve really been enjoying the Paper Trail podcast, which is hosted by the amazing authors Laekan Zea Kemp, Candace Buford, Emily Inouye Huey, Diana Rodriguez Wallach, and Charity Alyse.
They talk very openly about their mental health struggles, what it’s like being BIPOC creators, and how the publishing industry REALLY isn’t conducive to either at times. Has really helped me to feel not alone…as I’ve been struggling with my anxiety, and depression after over-working myself earlier this year. I’m doing much better lately, and I’ll probably talk about it more in a future post.
But for now, I’m sending love to any of you dealing with similar issues, as I know it’s been a hard year for many artists. ❤️
Finally, I’m going to Milkwood soon, and CAN NOT WAIT!!!
So excited for the cake…I mean learning…about cake…NO I MEAN GRAPHIC NOVELS…that contain suggestions for cake…
Take the best of CAKE …I mean care of yourself!
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CONGRATS!!!!!! Well deserved and amped you got to stan for humorous books! Let us make more!!!! (I’m headed to Milkwood at the end of August and cannot wait. I’ll read your post about and probably pass out in anticipation)
I love everything about this post. You are a DELIGHT, and I'm so glad I got to meet you at ALA. Cheers to humor!!!