New Releases by Maya Christina

"A bilingual poetic tale that follows one child/tree from the depths of Mami/Earth to the heights of the sky, telling a story about being free to grow and be who we are meant to be and honoring our relationship with the natural world"--

"Inclusive pronouns are learned alongside the alphabet in this joyously illustrated take on the classic ABC book"-- Back cover.

Award-winning children's book artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez's experimental illustrations and simple poetic narrative highlight the poems, stories, and art of 18 new and emerging diverse children's book ArtistAuthors. Love, creativity and power fill the pages!

"This is the Gender Wheel. Like our world it's round and holds every body at the same time... Award-winning author and illustrator of My Colors, My World and Call Me Tree, Maya Gonzalez, shares a nature-based, inclusive, body positive story of gender. Inviting every body back to the circle." --

One rabbit wakes up. Then another. In the magic light of the full moon they see stories reflected from another world. A world tied to their own, but far in the distance. Join the rabbits as they discover a bridge powerful enough to bring different worlds closer together. And the courage to cross it themselves. Be illuminated By the Light of the Rabbit Moon where stories can change who we are, open us up to our own stories and ultimately build bridges between worlds. Continuing to stretch the concept of anthology, award-winning children's book artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez takes us on another playful journey through story in this second book for the Heart of It Collection. A fresh and wordless tale spotlights the work of 29 new and emerging diverse children's book ArtistAuthors. Stories about nature, magic, identity and love abound. All provide seeds and possibilities to inspire kids to tell their story, share their art and know that in both the telling and the listening, our stories have the power to bring worlds closer together. Featured ArtistAuthors: Ale Barahona, Michelle Biyal, Victoria Bruno, Debbie Burran, Cecille Cervancia, Samantha Matalone Cook, Adrianne Beth Galvez, Silvia Garcia, Carol Green, Virginia Grise, TeMika Grooms, Teresa Lakier, Robert Liu-Trujillo, Nguyen Louie, Danielle Lucas, Ann Magee, Melina Mangal, Shanimarie Ogilvie, Gayle E. Pitman, Bernice Avella Popp, Nashanta C. Robinson, Karen Simpson, Roxana A. Soto, Carole Stedronsky, Yoly Petra Stroeve, Chantra Tham, Sonal Vyas, Cynthia A. Weber, Laurie L. Young"

By the light of the moon, the storyteller stands in the river and gathers what the storyfish bring her, but the wind promises something more. The river's flow carries her gently into the unknown as she finds herself traveling far out to sea in search of a great ship with an unlikely guide by her side. The great ship holds the key: there are others out there spinning their tales into the night! Whaleheart guides us out on the nightsea and brings us home again, reminding us that "a story is a sail with a wind built into it" and nothing is beyond our reach. Through a re-visioning of the anthology format, award-winning children's book artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez conjures a night journey within which to showcase 23 new and emerging diverse children's book ArtistAuthors from around the world. Some share windows into future picture books, some poems, while others share memories and short stories. All are inspiration for kids to tell their story, share their art and know that all stories are important, because all stories are connected. Featured ArtistAuthors: Victoria Bruno, Debbie Burran, Indelisa Carrillo, Jim Cartwright, Nicole Davis, Summer Edward, Silvia Garcia, Lauraine Gibbons, Carol Green, Rosalind Lord, Janine Macbeth, Katherine Mahler, Laurin Mayeno, Sanata Nacro, Innosanto Nagara, Judith Nasse, Melissa Reyes, Nata a Savelli, Carole Stedronsky, Kenji Tanner, Jorge Tevalan, Cynthia A. Weber, Laurie L. Young"

With the help of her family, a resourceful Mexican American girl realizes her dream of having a space of her own to read and to think.

"Meet the Gender Team and learn that there are many ways to feel on the inside no matter what body you have on the outside through stories from nature, history, and different cultures"--verso of title page.

The CLAIMING FACE curriculum is designed to support all of us, but especially children, to engage with creativity in order to know ourselves and be empowered to live our best lives. It is not about art, although art is made. It is about process. It is about life. Through exploration of the philosophy and its development, imagination exercises and questions, resource materials for art and literacy, as well as a vast and diverse sense of self-portraiture projects, the Claiming#13; Face curriculum lays out a feast of creative involvement to support first you, the educator and then the student in the classroom. This is an excellent tool to encourage higher thinking, strong self esteem, life skills, cultural diversity, ESL education and a lifelong connection to creativity.#13; Through your empowered model of presence in the classroom and the Claiming Face projects you will support your students to use creativity to:#13; - create their own reflection#13; - reflect on and know their selves #13; - empower and trust in their own knowing#13; - explore and expand their sense of self#13; - be free to be all that they are#13; Why would this be important? The stronger we feel in ourselves, the stronger we are in every aspect of our lives. When we have a strong sense of self it helps us to learn, make supportive choices, respect ourselves and those around us, and to care about our lives and ultimately our world. CLAIMING FACE and claiming creativity will resource us as a people to create a world in which we are made stronger through genuine reflection, through knowing that we all belong here now, and through understanding our creative potential. This is our world.

A girl expresses her love of the river that she visits, plays in, and cares for throughout the year.

Maya, who lives in the dusty desert, opens her eyes wide to find the colors in her world, from Papi's black hair and Mami's orange and purple flowers to Maya's red swing set and the fiery pink sunset.

Maya, who lives in the dusty desert, opens her eyes wide to find the colors in her world, from Papi's black hair and Mami's orange and purple flowers to Maya's red swing set and the fiery pink sunset.