Exploring Life Connections Through Art and Nature with Juana Martinez-Neal

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

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You know Juana Martinez-Neal as the recipient of the 2019 Caldecott Honor for Alma and How She Got Her Name, her debut picture book as author-illustrator. You might also know her as the New York Times bestselling illustrator recipient of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal for Fry Bread: A Native American Story and the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for La Princesa and the Pea. I first fell in love with La Princesa and the Pea as a spark for early childhood and elementary STEM/STEAM challenges, then quickly collected some of Juana’s other works, such as Swashby and the Sea and Zonia’s Rainforest as inspirations for more STEM/STEAM goodness in the classroom. In addition to chatting about her two newest books, I am also so excited to share that Juana and I are going to be teammates on a Children’s Book Creators for Conservation Wild Tomorrow expedition to South Africa this fall.

Join us as we delve into the vibrant world of Juana Martinez-Neal, an award-winning author/illustrator whose passion for art and the environment takes us on a journey from the diverse landscapes of Peru to the dust plumes of the Sahara. Juana discusses her newest books, Paka Paka con la Papa, a biography of potato hunter Alberto Salas, and A Gift of Dust, highlighting the environmental impact of Sahara dust plumes. She shares her commitment to aligning creative endeavors with personal values and the inspiration behind her collaborations, including a partnership with friend and fellow illustrator Molly Idle on Julie Fogliano's I Don't Care. Juana's stories of personal growth, travel dreams, and artistic expressions offer listeners a rich tapestry of insights and inspirations.

Chapter Highlights:

01:47: Paka Paka con la Papa

04:38: A Gift of Dust

05:59: The natural world as connecting thread through Juana's artistry

07:58: How Juana approaches her creative process

11:20: The joys and surprises of the research process with examples from Paka Paka con la Papa and Fry Bread: A Native American Story

15:24: Sponsor Ad

17:24: Collaborating on I Don't Care with Molly Idle

21:41: Adventures await in South Africa with Children’s Book Creators for Conservation and Wild Tomorrow

23:55: Upcoming projects

26:10 The enduring appeal of Alma, star of Alma and How She Got Her Name

30:49: Let's talk about HOPE

Links:

Follow Juana Martinez-Neal on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Juana Martinez-Neal's website

Explore her latest books: Paka Paka con la Papa and A Gift of Dust

Learn more about Children’s Book Creators for Conservation and the Wild Tomorrow trip to South Africa

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.