About the Book

Once Upon a Time

Enter an enchanted world of kings and giants, where cockroaches play dress-up and coyotes fly to the moon! In this lively bilingual collection of short stories, Spain and Latin America's most beloved tales are retold for a new generation.

From the grateful rooster who cries "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" to the awesome spirit of the Mother of the Jungle, Once Upon a Time/Habia una vez celebrates seven traditional folktales and tells them in a colorful, fresh voice. In these magical adventures that are sure to delight, readers young and old will meet some of the world's most memorable heroes and charming tricksters.

About the Author

Rueben Martínez founded Librería Martínez Books and Art Gallery in 1993. In 2000 he launched a second venue dedicated to children's literature. Librería MartÍnez Books is now among the largest commercial sellers of Spanish-language books in the country, serving as a cornerstone of cultural events and community activities that promote the benefits of reading to Hispanic Americans and Spanish-speaking immigrants. Rueben is also the cofounder of the Latino Book Festival. In 2004 he was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, the first ever given to a bookseller. Rueben lives in Santa Ana, California.

Rueben Martínez fundó la Librería Martínez Books and Art Gallery en 1993. En el 2000 lanzó otro espacio dedicado a la literatura infantil. Hoy en día la Librería Martínez es una de las librerías dedicadas a libros escritos en español más grandes de los Estados Unidos y se ha convertido en un centro cultural y comunitario que promueve la lectura en la comunidad hispana tanto en español como en inglés. Rueben es uno de los fundadores del Latino Book Festival y en 2004 le fue otorgado el prestigioso MacArthur Fellowship—fue la primer vez que se le otorgó a un librero. Rueben vive en Santa Ana, California.

About the Guest

Martha Barrios, is Chief Executive Officer of Frijolitos. Martha is a lifelong resident of East Los Angeles and has made significant contributions to her community in the areas of education, health and community development. After spending 20 years as a key member of prominent community based corporations, she began her own venture in the area of educational material development. After recognizing a need for products that transmit cultural values to children as well as teach Spanish, she recruited her family to apply their various talents to that end. Martha is a member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Latin Business Association, the Southern California Toy Association, Southern California Minority Business Development Council and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Friends of the East Los Angeles County Public Library.

Frijolitos is a provider of Latino themed education and toy products. Established in 2002, Frijolitos was the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition by Martha Barrios, President, to provide future generations of Latinos with a product that celebrates its heritage, language, and pride in ethnicity. The family-owned Latino Toy and Artesanias Compania was conceived as a tool to meet the needs of the growing Latino population.

About the Guest Interviewer

Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura has worked with Arte Público Press since 1997 at which time she began as a Research Assistant with the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. Currently, she is Executive Editor and supervises the production of over thirty titles a year that include adult, young adult, and bilingual children’s books. Dr. Baeza Ventura received her MA in Spanish from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and her Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature from the University of Houston where she is Associate Professor of Hispanic Literature in the Hispanic Studies. Her publications include La imagen de la mujer en la crónica del México de afuera (UACJ, Mexico), Con otra mirada: Cuentos hispanos de los Estados Unidos (Editorial Popular, Spain) and US Latino Literature Today (Longman Press, USA). Arte Publico, http://www.latinoteca.com/arte-publico-press

Arte Público Press is the nation's largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovery literature by U.S. Hispanic authors.