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
Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. a
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.