Ellen Ochoa (My Early Library: My Itty-Bitty Bio)

Ellen Ochoa made history as the first Latina astronaut in space. This early reader biography presents her life and accomplishments in a simple, age-appropriate way. The My Itty-Bitty Bio series celebrates diversity, covering women and men from a range of backgrounds and professions who embody values that readers of all ages can aspire to.

Brenda Perez Mendoza is an award-winning educator and the author of Racial Justice in America: Latinx American series. She grew up in Cicero as a native language Spanish speaker. When she went to school, there wasn’t enough support for students learning the English language. That is what drove her to become a K-12 ELL specialist and work with bilingual students. She works to advocate for all students, Latinx especially, to embrace their culture and celebrate who they are. Today, she lives in Chicago, Illinois, and is committed to providing students with culturally responsive practices and advocating for the Whole Child.

Leo Trinidad is a NY Times bestselling comic book artist, illustrator, and animator from Costa Rica. For more than 12 years he’s been creating content for children’s books and TV shows. Leo created the first animated series ever produced in Central America, and founded Rocket Cartoons, one of the most successful animation studios in Latin America. He is also the 2018 winner of the Central American Graphic Novel contest.