by Silvia López (Author) Paola Escobar (Illustrator)
This is a moving and impassioned picture book about the iconic Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla, that will embolden young readers to find their passion and make the impossible, possible!
Selena Quintanilla's music career began at the age of nine when she started singing in her family's band. She went from using a hairbrush as a microphone to traveling from town to town to play gigs. But Selena faced a challenge: People said that she would never make it in Tejano music, which was dominated by male performers. Selena was determined to prove them wrong.
Born and raised in Texas, Selena didn't know how to speak Spanish, but with the help of her dad, she learned to sing it. With songs written and composed by her older brother and the fun dance steps Selena created, her band, Selena Y Los Dinos, rose to stardom! A true trailblazer, her success in Tejano music and her crossover into mainstream American music opened the door for other Latinx entertainers, and she became an inspiration for Latina girls everywhere.
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This engaging, narrative-heavy picture book biography of Mexican American superstar Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995) follows her journey from childhood to adulthood, illustrating her struggles and triumphs on her path to prominence. Through page-long subtitled sections ("A Family Band," "The Language Challenge," and more), López contextualizes Selena's life and career, supplementing the narrative with quotations that allow readers a glimpse of her personality (on making little profit after a television appearance: " 'If we got five or ten dollars, ' Selena said, 'we could go to Whataburger!' "). Escobar's elaborate illustrations prove an enriching complement, portraying key scenes, significant players, and iconic outfits. The narrative elides mention of Selena's death, choosing to end on a hopeful note, but back matter includes an illustrated timeline and further information on the subject's life and death. Ages 6-9. (Aug.)
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Silvia López is a first-generation Cuban American. She holds a bachelor's in English, a specialist's degree in educational technology, and a master's in library science. For over three decades, she served as a children's librarian in Miami, Florida. Silvia is the author of fifteen books for children, including two Florida Book Award winners: Just Right Family: An Adoption Story and Queen of Tejano Music: Selena, which is also a Junior Library Guild selection. She invites you to visit her online at silvialopezbooks.com.
Olivia Sua is a mixed-race Colombian American illustrator who creates elaborate works from painted cut paper. She graduated from Pacific Northwest College of Art with a BFA in illustration. When she's not illustrating, Olivia likes to host a community group for women, hike the Oregon Coast, and go to parks to have picnics. She invites you to visit her online at oliviasua.com.