Partner Event: Dr. Raquel M. Ortiz discusses Children’s Literature

Join Dr. Raquel M. Ortiz, Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, social anthropologist, educator, storyteller, playwright, performer, poet, composer, editor, illustrator, and author of children’s books and songs. Recently awarded a 2022 Cleveland Foundation Artist Fellow, Dr. Ortiz has released an album of Afro-Puerto Rican bomba songs for children. The songs in the album, entitled Que vengan los niños, are sung in Spanish and in English, and some are also bilingual. Created in collaboration with William Cepeda, a four-time Grammy-nominated Latin Jazz legend, composer, and educator.

Dr. Ortiz’s bilingual stories about Afro-Caribbean and Latinx culture invite children and adults to join in on adventures, featuring children as the protagonists so that they see and celebrate their creativity and valor. Her published books are: Broken Butterfly Wings / Alas de mariposa rotas (2021, Arte Publico Press); Vicki and a Summer of Change! / ¡Vicki y un verano de cambio! (2020, Red Sugarcane Press, co authored with Iris Morales); Sofi Paints her Dreams / Sofi pinta sus sueños (2019,Arte Publico Press); When Julia Danced Bomba / Cuando Julia bailaba bomba (2019, Arte Publico Press); Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural / Sofi y el magico mural musical (2015, Arte Publico Press); and Planting Flags on Division Street / Plantando banderas en la calle Division (2015, Colores Editorial House). She was also nominated for an Emmy for her 18-minute animated film, Cucaracita Martina’s Musical Adventure inspired by Pura Belpré’ and her first picture book, Pérez and Martina: A Portorican Tale.