Mi Libro, Mi Espejo with Author Tracey Kyle and Illustrator Mirelle Ortega

Mi Libro, Mi Espejo (My Book, My Mirror) is a community literacy service project by Dr. AdaVilageliu-Díaz (Ph.D. in Literature) in collaboration with the LAMB PTO Diversity & Inclusion Committee. The primary goal of this project is to provide children cultural mirrors that affirm their identity and instill pride in their diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. This program promotes literacy skills in both Spanish and English while empowering children to see themselves and tell their own stories. The project is primarily focused on Latinx children’s books, but it includes and celebrates children from all backgrounds.

Tracey Kyle grew up in New Jersey and spent much of her childhood reading and writing poems. After seeing the boy band Menudo perform on a Latino TV station in middle school, she decided to learn Spanish fluently. Eventually she studied in Madrid, Spain. She spends most of her time as "Señora Kyle," teaching Spanish to a fun group of 8th graders. When she's not writing lesson plans or working on a new story, she loves to read, cook and practice yoga. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two cats.

Mirelle Ortega is a Mexican illustrator for kidlit and animation. She’s an avid reader and storyteller, a fan of science fiction and magic realism, and a lover of classic film and animation. She often draws inspiration from latin american cultures and a wide range of subjects, constantly mixing the whimsical and the ordinary in colorful compositions that are both bold and vibrant. She has illustrated covers for wonderful middle books such as "Love Sugar Magic", "From The Desk of Zoe Washington", "Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls", and picture books such as "Pepe And The Parade" and "Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro".

You can purchase Pepe and the Parade in our Bookshop here https://bookshop.org/books/pepe-and-the-parade-a-celebration-of-hispanic-heritage/9781499806663?aid=17045&listref=books-for-diversity-and-inclusion-picture-books