Books with author Maya Christina Gonzalez

"In the midst of the Spanish Civil War, 12-year-old ani unexpectedly gets drawn into a network of underground rebels working to thwart Franco's efforts to destroy the Basque people's way of life. . . . Exciting." -- SLJAni believes she is just an insignificant whisper of a girl in a loud world. This is what her mother tells her anyway. Her father made her feel important, but he's been off fighting in Spain's Civil War, and his voice in her head is fading. Then she meets Mathias. His family has just moved to Guernica and he's as far from a whisper as a boy can be. Ani thinks Mathias is more like lightning. Mathias's father is part of a spy network and soon Ani finds herself helping him deliver messages to other members of the underground. For the first time, she's making a difference in the world. And then her world explodes. The sleepy little market town of Guernica is destroyed by Nazi bombers. In one afternoon Ani loses her city, her home, her mother. But in helping the other survivors, Ani gains a sense of her own strength. And she and Mathias make plans to fight back in their own unique way.

WHO WILL CONTROL DESTINY?Cassie Arroyo has the ability to use the Spear of Destiny. And despite knowing the dangers of such a powerful object, she uses it to shape the future and save her father's life.The consequences of that small choice are larger than Cassie could ever have imagined. It produced a chain reaction - and now, in her visions of the future, Cassie sees chaos and death spreading across Rome.With the help of her friend Asher, Cassie is determined to fix the future she's created . . . but it's not going to be simple. The spear's been stolen by people who want to use it for their own dark purposes.Can Cassie recapture the spear before it's used against her? And will she be able to undo the harm she's caused, or will she only cast the world into greater chaos?Christina Diaz Gonzalez's Return Fire is a nonstop, action-packed adventure, full of mystery and intrigue, that will take you on a wild and wonderful ride across Italy.

By the light of the moon, the storyteller stands in the river and gathers what the storyfish bring her, but the wind promises something more. The river's flow carries her gently into the unknown as she finds herself traveling far out to sea in search of a great ship with an unlikely guide by her side. The great ship holds the key: there are others out there spinning their tales into the night! Whaleheart guides us out on the nightsea and brings us home again, reminding us that "a story is a sail with a wind built into it" and nothing is beyond our reach. Through a re-visioning of the anthology format, award-winning children's book artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez conjures a night journey within which to showcase 23 new and emerging diverse children's book ArtistAuthors from around the world. Some share windows into future picture books, some poems, while others share memories and short stories. All are inspiration for kids to tell their story, share their art and know that all stories are important, because all stories are connected. Featured ArtistAuthors: Victoria Bruno, Debbie Burran, Indelisa Carrillo, Jim Cartwright, Nicole Davis, Summer Edward, Silvia Garcia, Lauraine Gibbons, Carol Green, Rosalind Lord, Janine Macbeth, Katherine Mahler, Laurin Mayeno, Sanata Nacro, Innosanto Nagara, Judith Nasse, Melissa Reyes, Nataša Savelli, Carole Stedronsky, Kenji Tanner, Jorge Tevalan, Cynthia A. Weber, Laurie L. Young

Whenever Maya visits the river, the river jumps up to greet her. It cools her when the summer sun is too hot and holds her up when she dives in. It keeps her company in the quiet of winter. The river takes care of Maya and Maya takes care of the river. In this charming story about the wonders of nature presented in both English and Spanish, Maya Christina Gonzalez uses her remarkable talents as an artist and storyteller to inspire young readers to explore and protect the natural world around them.

The young Mexican American girl at the center of this charming book loves her family — five younger brothers, her two parents, and several visiting relatives — but in such a crowded house, she can never seem to find a moment alone. Told in both English and Spanish, this boldly illustrated title delivers the inspiring story of a California family that pulled together to give a young girl her own corner of the world. Imparting lessons about collective problem solving, the unshakable bonds of familial love, and the possibilities that arise when you dream big, this book is one for every child's shelf.

"In the midst of the Spanish Civil War, 12-year-old ani unexpectedly gets drawn into a network of underground rebels working to thwart Franco's efforts to destroy the Basque people's way of life. . . . Exciting." -- SLJAni believes she is just an insignificant whisper of a girl in a loud world. This is what her mother tells her anyway. Her father made her feel important, but he's been off fighting in Spain's Civil War, and his voice in her head is fading. Then she meets Mathias. His family has just moved to Guernica and he's as far from a whisper as a boy can be. Ani thinks Mathias is more like lightning. Mathias's father is part of a spy network and soon Ani finds herself helping him deliver messages to other members of the underground. For the first time, she's making a difference in the world. And then her world explodes. The sleepy little market town of Guernica is destroyed by Nazi bombers. In one afternoon Ani loses her city, her home, her mother. But in helping the other survivors, Ani gains a sense of her own strength. And she and Mathias make plans to fight back in their own unique way.

The world is filled with bold, beautiful colors, if only you know where to find them. Little Maya finds purple and yellow in the flowers in her garden, red in her swing set, and black in her Papa’s shiny hair. Mud is squishy, cool, and brown. Orange marigolds glow like the sun. Look around you. Where are the colors in your world?My Colors, My World/Mis colores, mi mundo is Maya Christina Gonzalez’s wonder-filled exploration of the colors and textures that make up the everyday environment of a small child. This new board book format of the award-winning story is perfect for tiny hands and was developed with the help of early childhood educators. The simple, streamlined text introduces rich vocabulary words alongside vibrant acrylic illustrations. Little Maya will draw the littlest readers in to her world, and will encourage them to make connections between the colors on the page and the world around them.

The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution. In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched. As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own. Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl? The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.From the Hardcover edition.

Self-Care for Kids! This is not your usual kid’s book! This book is a call to BE, to step forward and LOVE yourself, LOVE your community, know your history and your powerful place in it and strengthen your own creative power! This book is a tool to use. I created it because I know you are an important part of our world and your strength matters.Bullying is real, but we can change the story by changing the focus. Begin with yourself. Begin the journey of art activist. You are the artist. You are the storyteller. Change yourself. Change the world!Playful ink and watercolor illustrations support a powerful journey that touches on bullying in the founding history of the US, how that history may still be impacting kids and families today, and ways to use creativity and self respect in the face of negative messages for all marginalized communities. The first part of the book briefly acknowledges the United States' past and present and shows some basic forms of activism that kids engage in. The next part talks about walking away from a bully or de-escalation and focusing on how to take care of yourself and community. Finally practical ways creativity and portraiture can be used to support self respect and spread respect in community are explored. Communities reflected include Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Chicanx, LGBTQ Americans, disabled Americans, Americans who identify as women and girls, Muslim and Sikh Americans, Jewish Americans and Asian Americans. The back includes related resources and referrals and art & witnessing worksheets to copy. (Hardcover includes a Reading Guide and Community Project)This book is not a hero’s tale or the journey of a brave fight. This book is for the in between moments, the middle of the night, the long afternoon: those moments when kids are haunted by what someone said to them in the hallway, a sideways stare at the store or what they heard on the news. It’s about gathering strength for life’s every day journey and supporting a strong full self all the time.Award-winning children’s book artist and author Maya Gonzalez draws from 20 years working with kids using her Claiming Face curriculum, to provide a place for kids to land during difficult times and counteract the impact of oppression with truth, expression and personal creative power.

One rabbit wakes up. Then another. In the magic light of the full moon they see stories reflected from another world. A world tied to their own, but far in the distance. Join the rabbits as they discover a bridge powerful enough to bring different worlds closer together. And the courage to cross it themselves. Be illuminated By the Light of the Rabbit Moon where stories can change who we are, open us up to our own stories and ultimately build bridges between worlds. Continuing to stretch the concept of anthology, award-winning children's book artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez takes us on another playful journey through story in this second book for the Heart of It Collection. A fresh and wordless tale spotlights the work of 29 new and emerging diverse children's book ArtistAuthors. Stories about nature, magic, identity and love abound. All provide seeds and possibilities to inspire kids to tell their story, share their art and know that in both the telling and the listening, our stories have the power to bring worlds closer together. Featured ArtistAuthors: Ale Barahona, Michelle Biyal, Victoria Bruno, Debbie Burran, Cecille Cervancia, Samantha Matalone Cook, Adrianne Beth Galvez, Silvia Garcia, Carol Green, Virginia Grise, TeMika Grooms, Teresa Lakier, Robert Liu-Trujillo, Nguyen Louie, Danielle Lucas, Ann Magee, Mélina Mangal, Shanimarie Ogilvie, Gayle E. Pitman, Bernice Avella Popp, Nashanta C. Robinson, Karen Simpson, Roxana A. Soto, Carole Stedronsky, Yoly Petra Stroeve, Chantra Tham, Sonal Vyas, Cynthia A. Weber, Laurie L. Young

WHO WILL CONTROL DESTINY?Cassie Arroyo has the ability to use the Spear of Destiny. And despite knowing the dangers of such a powerful object, she uses it to shape the future and save her father's life.The consequences of that small choice are larger than Cassie could ever have imagined. It produced a chain reaction - and now, in her visions of the future, Cassie sees chaos and death spreading across Rome.With the help of her friend Asher, Cassie is determined to fix the future she's created . . . but it's not going to be simple. The spear's been stolen by people who want to use it for their own dark purposes.Can Cassie recapture the spear before it's used against her? And will she be able to undo the harm she's caused, or will she only cast the world into greater chaos? Christina Diaz Gonzalez's Return Fire is a nonstop, action-packed adventure, full of mystery and intrigue, that will take you on a wild and wonderful ride across Italy.