When I was a child I never sat still. I spent my time playing marbles with my neighbor friends, doing crafts or dancing. That's why I always participated in school plays and festivals. My interest in books and stories started when I was in kindergarten. Now, one of my favorite things to do is find fun picture books to share with readers at the library. (This photo is from when I participated in the Flor de piña dance, a folkloric dance from Oaxaca, Mexico.)
In my childhood years I loved school, especially Spanish and geography classes, and I always strived to be a good student. During my childhood I had a lot of fun playing with my brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. We played spinning tops, marbles, hide and seek, and rode our bikes all over town. Some weekends I would go to the river with my family, or visit my cousins to go to the beach. I loved spending my days outdoors. I always enjoy remembering my childhood in Mexico, and all the fun (and sometimes not so safe) activities we did as children.
I was always a very active child who enjoyed running. My favorite games to play with my cousins and friends were tag and el bote volado, a game similar to hide and seek, but it’s played outdoors and it involves hiding an empty can with which you’ll “save” your friends. I learned to read before I went to school, so I also spent time reading my siblings' elementary school textbooks, since we didn't have access to a public library. I actually found my love for picture books when I came to the United States as an adult. Maybe that's why I so enjoy reading these books to preschoolers through the Read Aloud program!
When I was in elementary school, I loved to play el liguero (elastic jump rope) with my friends. Sometimes we played more dynamic games like el cinto escondido (the hidden belt). When I wasn't running around and playing, I loved reading comic books, Little Lulu was one of my favorites. I also loved to solve the math and logic puzzles in Cacumen, a magazine that my uncles and aunts bought for all of us to enjoy.
I have always loved writing and my father was my first Spanish teacher. When I was in 5th grade at Griegos Elementary School in Albuquerque, he helped me write my first book in Spanish. I titled it The Tired Dog, and it won first place in a writing contest that year. As an adult, I still carry the child writer within me and continue to write in both English and Spanish. My father still reviews my stories, poems, and essays, especially when they are in Spanish. My father was my first teacher, and he also became my first reader. It’s a beautiful bond that we’ve kept through the years.