Once Upon a Cuento: Bilingual storytime
Authors Mayra Cuevas, Mia García and John Parra nurture the love for books and reading in this storytime hour for the whole family. From award-winning author, Mayra Cuevas, comes a vibrant and heartwarming story of the bond between grandmother and grandchild, with a touch of Puerto Rican magic. My Abuela is a Bruja / Mi Abuela es Una Bruja (Penguin Random House) will release in English and Spanish. M. García Peña / Mia García is the author of the picture book When We Find Her (Penguin Random House) and executive director of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival. John Parra is best-selling, award-winning author and illustrator for This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story (Day of the Dead) (Simon & Schuster). Bilingual storytime reflects the diversity of the community while helping Spanish-speaking children feel validated, understood, celebrated and valued, through stories that reflect their cultural experiences. It also offers readers outside the community an opportunity for empathy, connection and shared humanity.
Once Upon a Cuento: Hora de cuentos bilingüe
Autores Mayra Cuevas, Mia García y John Parra cultivan el amor por los libros y la lectura en esta hora del cuento para toda la familia. Mayra Cuevas es la autora galardonada del libro ilustrado para niños, My Abuela is a Bruja / Mi abuela es una bruja (Penguin Random House), disponible en inglés y español en agosto. Es una historia vibrante y conmovedora sobre el vínculo entre abuela y nieta, con un toque de magia puertorriqueña. Mia García es la autora del libro ilustrado para niños When We Find Her (Penguin Random House) y directora ejecutiva del Latinx Kidlit Book Festival. John Parra es el autor e ilustrador más vendido y galardonado de This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story (Day of the Dead) (Simon & Schuster).
About Mayra Cuevas:
MAYRA CUEVAS is the award-winning author of books and stories for readers of all ages. Her young adult novel Does My Body Offend You? (co-written with Marie Marquardt) was long-listed for the PEN/Faulkner Award. In 2023, she was named Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult category. Mayra’s debut picture book My Abuela is a Bruja/Mi Abuela es una Bruja is scheduled for a dual release in English and Spanish on August 12, 2025. Her debut adult romance How to Fake a Southern Gentleman (co-written with Marie Marquardt) is scheduled for a Spring 2026 release. Mayra is also the author of the teen foodie romcom Salty, Bitter, Sweet, and the short story “Resilient,” published as part of the anthology Foreshadow: The Magic of Reading and Writing YA. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Mayra is a former award-winning CNN producer and the co-founder of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival and its Latinx Storytellers Conference. Mayra lives in Atlanta. You can find Mayra on Instagram @Mayra.Cuevas and her website MayraCuevas.com.
About Mia García: M. García Peña / Mia García (she/her) was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She got her MFA at The New School and is the author of Even If the Sky Falls, The Resolutions, a contributor in the YA monster anthology Our Shadows Have Claws, and the picture book When We Find Her forthcoming from Viking Books for Young Readers. She is a founding member of the artist collective Las Musas Books and splits her time between Puerto Rico and New York. You can find her at mgarciabooks.com.
About John Parra:
John Parra is a best-selling, award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, renowned for his vibrant, Latino-themed children's picture books. His illustrated work on Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His art has also been featured in major public projects, including the Birdhouse Subways MTA Artcard, displayed throughout New York City’s subway system, and six U.S. Forever Postage Stamps in the Delicioso series.An advocate for art and literacy education, John regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences nationwide. He was also invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to present a special event about his career and creative journey. His debut book as both author and illustrator, Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son, has received widespread acclaim and numerous starred reviews. John lives in Queens, New York, with his wife, Maria.