Celebrating Costume Designer Edith Head

October 28, 2022

Hola calabacita, do you believe in the power of Fall? I do. I think Autumn always brings big shifts into my life.

There is a Fall song my toddler loves: we shake an apple tree as hard as we can until, one by one, all the apples fall. I feel like that tree. A lot of shaking, a lot of old "truths" falling down. And while I'm feeling a little shaken up, I'm also hopeful that letting go will make space for new growth. I can't wait to see how that reflects on my work.

Speaking of new things... My book Dressing Up the Stars, written by Jeanne Walker-Harvey, came out a few weeks ago! Very timely, I might add, since today October 28th is the birthday of costume designer Edith Head.

Wild Geese - A Tribute to Mary Oliver

January 19, 2019

A week ago I rediscovered a poem by Mary Oliver. It was a poem I already knew, but this time it held a different meaning for me: I was letting my body love what it loves. So I went home and started working on this piece.

Two days ago, Mary Oliver died. And I am grateful to whatever cosmic force guided me, I am grateful for the opportunity to hold her words close again, I am grateful her words found me when I needed them.

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

WILD GEESE, by Mary Oliver, 1986.

Cover Reveal: One Snowy Day

April 16, 2018

TACHÁN! Here is the cover for One Snowy Day!

I'm using the Spanish translation of ta-dah because it sound more intense, and I'm *that* excited about this book! The story, written by Diana Murray, is super fun. It's also a pleasure to read aloud. In fact, I have read aloud it for my cat many times while working on the illustrations. Unfortunately, my cat doesn't seem to care about snow.

Diana M. shares the inspiration behind the book...

Making Inclusive Books

March 26, 2018

We illustrators have a mighty important role: we shape worlds.

When kids open our books, they step into our worlds and go off to live adventures. If we are lucky and create a compelling enough world (with the help of authors, publishers, designers, etc.), a kid will visit it again, and again, and again.

I didn't realize back then (7 years ago), but my first book was not very diverse. Luckily I have gotten a lot better about it! The protagonists of my last three books were a kid with a disability, a mixed race family, and two siblings of ambiguous race.

Are your books diverse enough? If your answer is no, do not despair... You have a chance to do better with the next one. We all do. Here are some strategies to help you embrace diversity and avoid stereotypes...

Magical Winter Solstice & Happy Holidays

December 21, 2017

snow_forest_clouds-diana_toledano-square_holiday_card.png

Hello,

Sorry I've been absent for a while... I''ve been very busy with work and life (but mostly work). Now that the year is coming to an end, I wanted to write and say thanks. I'm very grateful for all my clients, family and friends. I'm very thankful for YOU, because your support allows me to do what I love for a living.

HAVE A MAGICAL WINTER SOLSTICE! AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hola caracola,

Siento haber estado desaparecida por un tiempo... He estado muy liada trabajando y viviendo (pero sobre todo trabajando). Ahora que el año está terminando, quería escribir para darte las gracias. Muchísimas gracias a todos mis clientes, familia y amigos. Muchísimas gracias a ti, porque tu apoyo me permite ganarme la vida haciendo lo que más me gusta.

¡FELIZ SOLSTICIO DE INVIERNO! ¡Y FELICES FIESTAS!

Summer Update: One Book Down!

August 1, 2017

I've been crazy busy the last couple months working on some book projects (remember? I talked about it here). So I thought it was about time to come back and give you a little update:

One book down, one to go!

The early readers book Polly Diamond and the Magic Book (written by Alice Kuipers, to be published in 2018 by Chronicle Books) is now finished! And soon...

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Estos últimos meses he estado trabajando como loca en algunos proyectos (¿recuerdas?, hablé de ello aquí). Así que he pensado que ya iba siendo hora de ponerte al día:

¡Un libro acabado, y un libro por acabar!

¡Ya he terminado el libro para primeros lectores Polly Diamond y el libro mágico (escrito por Alice Kuipers, y será publicado en 2018 por Chronicle Books)! Pronto estará...

Find The Heart In Your Story - SCBWI Poster

February 27, 2017

A year and a half ago (give or take), I was at the SCBWI Illustrator's Day winning the Best Portfolio Award (yay!) and a ticket to a children's book conference. A year ago (give or take), I was at that conference, learning to embrace my emotions and changing…

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Hace un año y medio (más o menos), estaba en el evento "El Día del Ilustrador" organizado por SCBWI, ganando el Premio al Mejor Portfolio y la entrada a una conferencia de libros infantiles. Hace un año (más o menos), estaba en esa conferencia, cambiando…

Happy Holidays!

December 23, 2016

Happy Holidays!

Whatever it is that you celebrate these days, I hope you find some time to rest, to enjoy great food, and to hug your friends and family. I know I will. And if you get sad thinking of those who aren't here anymore or those who are in danger (I know I will), try this: be kind. I'll be dedicating all my acts of kindness to my grandma who was tough as nails but had the biggest heart.

For my holiday and Christmas card, I've repurposed an illustration from the picture book "Une place pour Edouard" (written by Beatrice Gernot, illustrated by me, and published by Alice Editions). I had no time to create anything else. Actually, I did... but I can't show it yet!

Thank you for following along. I'm so grateful for your support!

¡Felices Fiestas!

Celebres lo que celebres en estas fechas, espero que encuentres tiempo para descansar, disfrutar de comidas caseras, y de abrazar a tu familia y amigos. Yo lo voy a hacer. Y si te sientes triste pensando en aquellos que ya no están o en aquellos que están en peligro (yo también lo voy a hacer), prueba esto: se amable. Cuando haga algo amable por alguien, yo voy a dedicárselo a mi abuela, que era de armas tomar pero tenía un corazón enorme.

Para mi felicitación de Navidad he reutilizado una ilustración del álbum infantil "Une place pour Edouard" (escrito por Beatrice Gernot, ilustrado por mi, y publicado por Alice Editions). No he tenido tiempo de crear otra cosa. Bueno, sí que he podido... ¡pero no puedo enseñar nada aún!

Gracias por acompañarme. ¡No sabes cuanto agradezco tu apoyo!