Upcoming Book Signing at El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico

If you happen to be in Puerto Rico, specifically the El Yunque Rainforest, on Saturday, July 26th, 2008, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., do stop by the gift shop as I will be there signing copies of "There's a Coqui in My Shoe!" In addition, Marisa de Jesus Paolicelli, the author, as well as ChiChi Rodriguez, the publisher of the book will also be there signing.

Here is a link to the El Yunque Rainforest website, if you are interested in learning more about it : http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean

I'll keep you posted with additional information as it becomes available.

"There's a Coqui in My Shoe" wins award

After a long wait my first book that I illustrated finally came out earlier this year. We completed work on There's a Coqui in My Shoe! a few years ago and since then Marisa De Jesus Paolicelli has worked diligently with the publisher, ChiChi Rodriguez Books, to get the book into distribution.

I am very excited to let everyone know that There's a Coqui in My Shoe! won "Best Educational Children's Book in English" in the 2008 10th Annual International Latino Book Awards. In addition, There's a Coqui in My Shoe! placed 2nd in the category of "Best Children's Picture Book - English." The awards were presented during Book Expo America (the largest book expo in the country) on May 29, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. These awards honor literary excellence in a variety of categories.

About The International Latino Book Awards

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. Due to the dramatic increase in recent years in nominations of literary works from Mexico, Central and South America, and Spain, the title of the awards was changed to the International Latino Book Awards in 2006. Latino Literacy Now is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community and in association with noted actor, director and community activist, Edward James Olmos, produces the Latino Book & Family Festival. For a list of winners and further information on the awards, please visit: http://lbff.us/. This major event showcases the diversity and importance of our multicultural community.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Review copies of There's a Coqui in My Shoe! are available, upon request, directly from A Caribbean Experience Con Amor, LLC; telephone: (610) 806-2013.