Biographical note

Arlene Abundis is a Cuban American author whose work honors resilience through mental and emotional health. She has struggled with social anxiety and post-traumatic stress for over two decades. A former preschool teacher, she lives nestled with her husband and three children between the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains in California. Pastelitos that drip guava jelly, gardens, and library adventures with her kids calm the swirling thoughts of her mind. Cynthia Alonso is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer with roots in Buenos Aires, Argentina, currently based in Berlin. Her images are full of life, tenderness, curiosity, and vivid characters. With expertise in illustration, drawing, lettering, and design, she focuses on creating evocative visual storytelling for fiction and nonfiction children's books. Cynthia has published over ten books since 2016, and her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, the Bologna Children's Bookfair, Latin American Illustration, Nami Concours, 3x3 Magazine, and more.