Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro hit the shelves on May 4th, 2021! Read below to get a closer look inside this inspirational picture book written by Monica Brown and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega!
An informative, inspirational picture book biography about twins Julián and Joaquin Castro, who rose from poverty to become leaders for positive change in America.
The story of political powerhouse twins Julián and Joaquin Castro began in the small room that they shared with their grandmother Victoriana in San Antonio, Texas. Victoriana crossed the border from Mexico into Texas as a six-year-old orphan, marking the start of the family’s American journey. Her daughter Rosie, Julián and Joaquin’s mom, was an activist who helped the barrio through local government.
The strong women in their family inspired the twins to get involved in politics. Julián and Joaquin have been working at the local, state, and national level—as a former presidential candidate, mayor and member of President Obama’s Cabinet, and a U.S. Congressman, respectively—to make the country a better place for everyone.
Acclaimed author Monica Brown and illustrator Mirelle Ortega depict the Castros’ political and personal accomplishments in this must-read picture book biography.
Also available in a Spanish edition: Pequeña habitación, grandes sueños.
MONICA BROWN, PhD, is the award-winning author of Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando el Biblioburro, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina, and the Lola Levine chapter book series. Her books have garnered two Américas Awards, a Christopher Award, and the prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship on Chicano Cultural Literacy. She lives in Arizona with her family and teaches at Northern Arizona University. Find out more at www.monicabrown.net.
MIRELLE ORTEGA is an illustrator and concept artist currently living in California. She’s originally from the southeast of Mexico and has a passion for storytelling, sci-fi, film, TV, color, and culture. Mirelle has a BFA from the Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) in digital art and 3D animation and an MFA from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is fluent in Spanish and English. Visit her online at www.mirelleortega.com.
