The Tomas Rivera Award comes to my home--in Mexico!

I was so concentrated this afternoon; I had sketches that I wanted to send out today as if a curse would fall upon me if I didn't send them out right before everybody at Candlewick left for the long weekend. I didn't even noticed that there was a frenzy of emails in my inbox from people asking me where, oh, where could they call my sister Magaly because they had great news to announce.

What To Do With A Paleta is this year's winner of the Tomas Rivera Book Award!

Now let me say that the Tomas Rivera Award people are humans of high caliber. They are some of the most caring, enthusiastic, and smart people I have ever known. They champion books as if they were sacred. They throw celebrations as for royalty. And now they could even make dreams come true: My sister Magaly lives in Mexico, could they... would it be possible... for them to make happen for my sister to come receive the award in person?

We are talking visiting visa for a Mexican here. Could they make it possible?

I am making this my dream.

Tomas Rivera 2008

Texas knows how to put together a book award celebration. Hurray for San Marcos and Austin!



We also heard that Juan Felipe Herrera was there last year to receive the award, and he kept people in stitches. How do you do it, Juan Felipe? I am sure one has to be born with that magic inside.

Tomas Rivera Award for Los Gatos Black on Halloween

We are going to San Marcos to receive the Tomas Rivera Book Award!

Not only is San Marcos warm and beautiful, but they make the best of celebrations.

I was there first in 2004 to receive the award for Just a Minute. The next year my husband Tim and I were brought again for the 10th anniversary celebration. All the authors and illustrators winners of the first ten years were there too. We all took turns being interviewed for a film about the award, we rode together in a big van like if we were a rock band, and we talked, had meals together, attended events galore, and were bonded for ever and until the end of the world. Here are a couple of pictures of most of us.

Alright, San Marcos, here come Marisa, Los Gatos Black and I!