About the Book

Book Fiesta!

"Hooray! Today is our day, ¡El día de los niños! ¡Viva! Hoy es nuestro día. El día de los niños!" So begins Pat Mora's newest picture book, Book Fiesta!

Book Fiesta! is a fun showcase of children and families from varied languages and cultures as they enjoy reading—even in a hot air balloon. The book, which is illustrated with inventive imagination by Rafael López, can be sung or used for choral reading.

Book Fiesta! is a bilingual celebration that can be shared throughout the year and, especially on or near April 30, the day set aside by author Pat Mora as Dia, a special day to celebrate books and reading. The book includes an author note about Día and suggested activities for celebrating Día at home, school, libraries or anywhere.

About the Author

Pat Mora is the author of many books (for adults and children) and is founder of the family literacy initiative El día de los niños/ El día de los libros, Children's Day/ Book Day (Dia), now housed at the American Library Association.

The much-honored Mora is a popular national speaker shaped by the U.S.-Mexico border where she was born and spent much of her life. She speaks often at conferences, universities, and schools about her books, literacy, and leadership. A former consultant, museum director, university administrator, teacher, and the mother of three adult children, she lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

About the Guest Interviewer

Macarena Salas is a bilingual author, editor and translator who has been working independently since the summer of 2008. For the 10 years prior to 2008 she worked as Editorial Director for the Spanish Book Publishing Division of Scholastic where she was responsible for the publication of more than 100 children's Spanish titles annually.

Macarena began her editorial career at Scholastic in 1988 as a freelance editor of children’s books.  In 1999 she joined the company full-time as an editor and in 2000 she became Associate Director in charge of Spanish publishing and “Club Leo,” the Spanish language Book Club, which is distributed through schools nationwide.  In 2003 she became Editorial Director.

She also has authored several picture books for children, under her pseudonym Ana Galan (www.anagalan.com), among them:*No Is No Sí Is Yes, Mira is Look, Libro is Book, La Bruja Maruja, Hilario el veterinario, Amigas para siempre, Guide to Friendchicks, and Un ABC animal.

Prior to joining Scholastic, Macarena worked for six years in the publishing industry, translating, copy editing and proofreading children's books and text programs for Sur Editorial Group. She also was a practicing veterinarian from 1987 to 1992.

A native of Oviedo, Spain, she holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. Macarena, her husband and three children, reside in New York.