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02/16/12 - Registration is now open for the next National Latino Children's Literature Conference at the historic University of Alabama campus on March 29 - 30, 2012. The conference will be Thursday and Friday all day with a special event at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on the evening of March 29th. Confirmed award winning Latino author and illustrator speakers: Joe Cepeda, René Colato Laínez, Meg Medina, F. Isabel Campoy, Alma Flor Ada, Monica Brown and John Parra.

01/23/12 - Ofrendas del Corazón are holding their Fifth Annual Silent Heart Art Auction Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, from 6 to 9pm, at the Salinas Civic Center, in Pharr, TX. Included among the many artist's donated decorated hearts you can bid on a new painting of mine entitled: St. Valentine Comes by Night, created especially for this wonderful event. The auction goes to benefit The Michael M. Rutledge Legacy Award, a scholarship fund to support dual language students from PSJA High School and PSJA North High School. For those not able to attend the Ofrendas del Corazón Silent Heart Auction in person you can support this wonderful cause by ordering their book: Ofrendas del Corazón (2008-2012). This book beautifully showcases a retrospective of current and past year’s artist participants and their decorated hearts.

01/11/12 - The National Education Association (NEA) posted its annual Read Across America Literacy Calendar featuring, for the month of December, artwork from my book Waiting for the Biblioburro. You can download other months that profile many wonderful children’s books from such luminaries as Roald Dahl, Lulu DeLacre, Leo and Diane Dillon, and many more, along with great media tools and tips for promoting literacy and reading. To download other months from the calendar click here.

10/21/11 - Every Poster Has a Story: The Scoop on the First-Ever Golden Kite Awards Poster. SCBWI recently unveiled its first ever poster featuring winners of the organization's coveted annual Golden Kite Awards. The debut poster was beautifully illustrated by John Parra, 2010 Golden Kite winner for picture book illustration.

10/10/11 - Waiting for the Biblioburro / La Bibli des deux ânes, is now available in French! You can view at Amazon.com / Canada. Some French profile reviews of the book can be seen at: La Courte Echelle, Le Télégramme, Ricochet-Jeunes, Opalivres, and News Book.