I work almost exclusively with children of color. Children with faces
like mine. I teach the kids to claim all that they are: their face,
their feelings, their experiences and express that for all the world
to share through art. Most of my books are bilingual. This always seems
like a secret prize for me. As a small boy my father was enrolled in
an all English speaking school. He spoke only Spanish. I know this was
a difficult way for him to learn. It must have affected him because
although his family spoke primarily Spanish, I was not raised speaking
it at all. In fact I am still learning to speak it. When I am alone
in my studio working on one of my books, there is a part of me who is
painting it for that small boy who became my father.
