DIANE GONZALES BERTRAND is the author of numerous books for children. They include The Story Circle / El círculo de cuentos (Piñata Books, 2016), A Bean and Cheese Taco Birthday / Un cumpleaños con tacos de frijoles con queso (2015), and Cecilia and Miguel Are Best Friends / Cecilia y Miguel son mejores amigos (2014), among others. A lifelong resident of San Antonio, Bertrand teaches at St. Mary’s University, where she is also Writer-in-Residence.
Like Pepita, the character she brought to life in vivid color on the pages of Pepita Talks Twice / Pepita habla dos veces (Piñata Books, 1995) and subsequent books in the Pepita series, ALEX PARDO DELANGE has walked the highway of assimilation between two cultures. Written by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman, Pepita Talks Twice / Pepita habla dos veces is a brightly illustrated bilingual picture book that tells the charming story of a little girl who learns the joy and value of speaking two languages and living within two cultures.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Pardo DeLange moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 15 where she finished high school. Later, she moved to the United States where she earned a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Miami. She started her career in art as a freelance artist for design and advertising agencies, but quickly made the move to illustrating books for children.
In addition to illustrating the six books in the Pepita Series, Pardo DeLange is also the illustrator of The Empanadas that Abuela Made / Las empanadas que hacía la abuela (Piñata Books, 2003); Tina and the Scarecrow Skins / Tina y las pieles de espantapájaros (Piñata Books, 2002); and Sip, Slurp, Soup Soup / Caldo, caldo, caldo (Piñata Books, 2002).
She now lives in Gainesville, Florida with her husband and three children.
GABRIELA BAEZA VENTURA is an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Houston. She has translated numerous children’s books, including Dalia’s Wondrous Hair / El cabello maravilloso de Dalia (Arte Público Press, 2014), There’s a Name for this Feeling: Stories / Hay un nombre para lo que siento: Cuentos (2014), Adelita and the Veggie Cousins / Adelita y las primas verduritas (2011) and Remembering Grandma / Recordando a Abuela (2003).
