As of today, we are on summer vacation! When we return in September, we’ll celebrate our second Blogversary, the release of Ashley Hope Pérez’s new young adult novel, Out of Darkness, and much more. We’ll keep in touch by tweeting past posts through the summer for our new followers. You please keep in touch, too. If you would like to contribute a blog post or you have a book with Latin@ characters that you’d like listed on our site and/or reviewed, please contact us through the form on the blog or by emailing: latinosinkidlit@gmail.com. We don’t guarantee a review for every book, which will be outlined in our new reviewing policy. Below are news items and special thanks to all who have worked with us so far.

What we’re doing with our time off:

Cindy L. Rodriguez: I will be attending the International Literacy Association conference in St. Louis next weekend for both my day job as a reading specialist and to promote When Reason Breaks. I have a few more book events through the summer, and I plan to read and write as much as possible before school begins again in the fall. In August, I will get away with my daughter and friends, spending a week on the beach in Rhode Island.

Sujei Lugo: As a children’s librarian at a public library I’ll be immersed in our summer reading program, which includes: summer reading bingo, bilingual story time, comics workshop, an art program with Growing up Pedro author and illustrator Matt Tavares, music programs, and more! I also plan to find time to continue writing my dissertation proposal and get ready for my August trip to Puerto Rico to visit my family and friends.

Lila Quintero Weaver: Lila recently wrapped up a big project. She plans to clear her mind by reorganizing closets and computer files. Travel plans are on hold until autumn when Gulf Coast beaches are blissfully quiet.

Ashley Hope Pérez is enjoying quality time with her family in Columbus, Ohio, where she, husband Arnulfo, and 5-year-old Liam Miguel welcomed baby Ethan Andrés on June 10. Ashley is spending most of her time nursing the new baby and catching up on YA reading. She’s also looking forward to the release of her third novel, Out of Darkness, in September. Keep an eye out for an August Out of Darkness blog tour!

Zoraida Córdova: This summer I’ll be working on my third romance novel, Life on the Level. Also, I’ll be working on my tan.

Marianne Snow: I’m preparing for my comprehensive exams (three 20-page papers yaaay), attending several weddings, and taking my first ever trip to Canada.  Plus, I’m gearing up to teach a course on children’s literature to undergraduate pre-service teachers in the fall.

Cecilia Cackley: At the moment I’m teaching play writing at a summer camp in Montgomery County, MD and in August I’ll be traveling to Ilobasco, El Salvador and Chichicastenango, Guatemala to teach two weeks of puppetry workshops.

Sonia Alejandra Rodriguez: Having recently completed a PhD in English, Sonia looks forward to relaxing and reading as much as possible. She will also be teaching poetry and spoken word to a group of elementary school students from the Chicago area.