Congratulations to Austin SCBWI member Gloria Amescua, whose debut picture book, Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, releases from Abrams Books for Young Readers on August 17th! The picture-book biography, illustrated by the acclaimed Duncan Tonatiuh, celebrates in lyrical verse the life of Luz Jiménez, known as the “spirit of Mexico.” Jiménez (1897-1965) taught and preserved Nahua culture by modeling for many artists, helping present an Indigenous and non-Eurocentric picture of Mexico to the world. An early version of the manuscript won Lee and Low’s 2016 New Voices Award.
Child of the Flower-Song People has been widely praised and has garnered starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly.