Los Angeles Libros Fest: Interview With Monica Brown

Press release from the Los Angeles Public Library:

August 10, 2021

Monica Brown, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of many magical multicultural books for children, including Small Rooms, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro, Frida and her Animalitos, Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando al Biblioburro, and the Lola Levine chapter book series. Her books have been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and on NPR. They have garnered starred reviews, two Américas Awards, and a Christopher Award. Her books are widely available in bilingual or Spanish editions and have been translated into a dozen languages.

Monica Brown will be one of the featured authors at the Los Angeles Libros Festival, a free bilingual book festival for the whole family. L.A. Libros Fest will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube on Friday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

It is my hope that children will read my books and be transported by the extraordinary lives of the Latino/a/x artists, leaders, activists, and heroes that I write about. I want them to be delighted and entertained by the adventures of my fictional characters. I want them to find joy and delight and see themselves in my books. Children need to imagine their lives without limits, as Julián and Joaquin Castro did, as Julio C. Tello, indigenous archeologist did, like Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez did. These individuals made our world better, and young readers can aspire to do the same.

Children’s books are the place where art meets text, so as I write, I imagine illustratable action, the movement on each and every spread—what makes the reader want to turn the page. If I’m writing about a historical figure, I do an enormous amount of research and consider multiple sources. I also let myself be inspired beyond the facts of a life. For example with My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/Me Llamo Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz, I listened to her sing and watched her perform again. I wanted to capture her energy and joy and the lyricism of her music.

I was inspired by magic and whimsy and fantasy—stories of ghosts and witches and fairytales. I liked Dr. Sueuss’s language and rhyme. I did not read stories with families like mine. I am the daughter of a Peruvian immigrant and a North American father and don’t recall a single children’s book with a Latino protagonist.

I have written thirty books for children so the casting list would be long! But I would cast yet unknown actors if it were my choice because I know how much-untapped talent is out there! The challenge would be casting my new non-fiction picture book, Small Room, Big Dreams: The Story of Julián and Joaquin Castro, because they are twins.

I feel a special responsibility with the hearts and minds of children—I want to give them my very best creative work. I think all things we want to do well are challenging. Creativity holds hands with discipline and hard work.

I would advise them to read, read, read and write, write, write. Before I was a writer, I was an avid reader—starting from when I was young! Go to the library, check out ten books, not one. Then, sit down and write—a story, a biography, a poem, a song. Write in your journal or a letter to your grandmother. Create a comic book or a school magazine. Tell the story of your family. The pencil is powerful! Make your voice heard!

Excited! Seeing my words illustrated by brilliant artists like John Parra and Rafael Lopez was a dream come true. In writing for children, I found my gift, and want to help children discover theirs.

I feel a special responsibility with the hearts and minds of children—I want to give them my very best creative work. I think all things we want to do well are challenging. Creativity holds hands with discipline and hard work.

I turned in my own translation of the first book I ever wrote, My Name is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral/Me llamo Gabriela: La Vida de Gabriela Mistral. My mother, a native Spanish speaker, and I had collaborated on the translation. The press informed me that they would use a professional translator—one whose Spanish wasn’t rooted in Northern Peru. At first, I was disappointed, but in working with professional translators like Adriana Dominguez and Carmen Tafolla, among others, I’ve come to appreciate their wisdom and special insight into the Spanish language.

I think librarians are literacy activists and libraries are literacy centers! Libraries save us—sometimes literally. They provide safe shelter for our imaginations. Libraries are places of wonder and creativity, of education and delight, of escape and comfort—just as books are. In all sincerity, Librarians are my favorite people. Here’s a secret: if I wasn't a teacher and writer, I’d be a librarian! It’s my not-so-secret dream job.

Would you believe me if I told you I have six different books I’m working on? I have two non-fiction books that I am working on, and a fantasy chapter book series that are all still top secret! I can tell you about my soon-to-be out book, which is called The Turquoise Room/El Cuarto Turquesa, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, which will be out in 2022. It’s a fictionalized story of my Abuelita Esther, my mother Isabel, and me. This book is literally magical because our imaginations give us the power to fly!

Books by Monica Brown

Sharuko: el arqueólogo Peruano Julio C. Tello/Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello

Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro

Pequeña habitación, grandes sueños: el viaje de Julián y Joaquín Castro

Monica Brown at L.A. Libros Fest

This press release was produced by the Los Angeles Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.