Juana Martinez-Neal

Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela thinks that her name is too long, and complains to her father that it doesn't "fit." He sits her down and tells her the stories of all the family members she is named after, from her grandmother Sofia to her great-aunt Pura, and as she comes to appreciate these ancestors, Alma becomes more appreciative of her name. In the end, her father tells her that her first name, Alma, is hers alone...

Although author/illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal has provided show more the artwork for a number of other picture-books, most notably, La Princesa and the Pea and La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for Los Niños, this is her debut as both writer and artist. And what a debut it is! Alma and How She Got Her Name is a lovely book, one which pairs a gentle, heartwarming tale of family tradition and naming with beautiful, immensely appealing illustrations. As someone with an interest in names, their meanings and the stories behind them, I was bound to find this story engaging, but I was also won over by the poignant and yet uplifting nature of Alma's family narrative. The artwork, done in graphite, colored pencils and prints on handmade paper, is incredibly cute and quite expressive, perfectly capturing the emotional pitch of each scene. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about names and naming in general, or with a Latino cultural outlook in particular. show less

I love all the characters in this loving story, but my favorite is the sea. Ferry makes the sea a character as if everyone sees the sea that way. The sea is a mild trickster in the story, a trickster that connects people. The repeated refrain - "the sea fiddled with, just a little bit" - drives the story. Illustrator Martinez-Neal brings the people to life with expressive eyes and body language to accompany Ferry's eloquently simple words. Soft watercolors evoke summer at the beach in all show more it's lazy and joyful moods. The gull on most pages lends attention and humor. Inter- and intragenerational themes dominate this heartfelt, warm story, perfect for sharing. show less

This book isn’t just about the Peruvian Amazon, it literally is the Peruvian Amazon: Its illustrations were created on paper made from banana bark by women living in the village of Chazuta. Its delightfully impish main character is Asháninka, the area’s largest Indigenous group. And its Peruvian-born author provides an Asháninka translation of Zonia’s story at the back. (The book is also available in Spanish.) But what truly makes it stand out is its message of self-determination: show more These Indigenous people, Martinez-Neal has written, are “not saved but take charge.” show less

Oh my goodness, Juana Martinez-Neal is one of my absolutely favorite illustrators. The love she pours into each illustration is evident to the reader. In this book, I was transported to the Amazon and to the Ashaninka people, an Indigenous people group of the Peruvian Amazon. Bringing the stories of indigenous people to light is SO important. As is it also important to highlight who we have a duty to protect lands that are quickly being torn apart.

I cannot sing praises of this book enough. show more AND there is a translation for the Ashaninka people in the back. Bringing a voice to those who don't have one....this I love show less