BOOKS

memoir
MEXICO, JUPITER, SUBMARINE: How I Became a Writer
This is a childhood memoir done in collage. It is available for Apple devices through i-Book.
multicultural middle grade fiction
THE WHITE ZONE
In Baghdad, war is being waged all around Talib and Nouri. Can these two Iraqi boys solve their own war and live in peace with each other?
Starfields (candlewick 2011)
Living in the Mayan jungle, Rosalba knows nothing about the 2012 prophesy of the end of the world. Then sophisticated Alicia comes from Mexico City to tell her all about it...
Take Me With You (Candlewick 2010)
Susana and Pina grow up in an Italian orphanage Will either find a parent?
Sahwira: An African Friendship (Candlewick 2009)
Can a white boy and an African boy keep their friendship in a changing world?
The Buddha's Diamonds (Candlewick 2008)
Overnight, Tinh's Vietnamese village is destroyed by a cyclone.
When Heaven Fell (Candlewick 2007)
Binh's Ameican aunt is coming to her Vietnamese village. Will she bring the riches that Binh longs for?
Bird Springs (Viking 2007)
Gregory has to leave the Navajo reservation for the big city of Tucson.
The Jade Dragon (Candlewick 2006)
Why won't the new Chinese girl be Ginny's friend?
The Quail Club (Candlewick 2006)
In this sequel to The Gold-Threaded Dress, Oy must again make a decision. In the talent show will she do what others want or be true to herself?
Moon Runner (Candlewick 2005)
What if your best friend is also your biggest rival?
Silk Umbrellas (Candlewick 2004)
Will Noi be sent to the factory to work, or can she learn to paint umbrellas? Will a young artist be able to pursue her gift?
Mama Had to Work on Christmas (Viking 2003)
Gloria wakes up on Christmas morning to find that Mama is going to work instead of taking her to Nana's house in Mexico to celebrate.
The Gold-Threaded Dress (Candlewick 2002)
Oy, a Thai immigrant, has to decide what she will give up to fit in. What would you do if the most popular girl demanded that you bring or special dress to school, or else?

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NEWS

This is the Japanese version of SILK UMBRELLAS.

This is the new Japanese version of MOON RUNNER.

THE WHITE ZONE, set in contemporary Baghdad, will be released by Carolrhoda Books in spring 2012.

We saw a lot of art in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

In November and December of 2010, I visited the West African countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Together with children's author, Gretchen Woelfle, I visited international American schools in those countries. We took a lot of pictures, met interesting people, saw amazing sights, and tried to speak French. Maybe one day I'll set a book in West Africa!

This was a crazy little building made out of trash.

I love the way this guy's head is made out of a swim fin.

These little figures are made out of spoons and other recycled items.

This new painting was done with the monotype process.

Here is my latest collage. It's about four feet tall and was inspired by a painting by the old master, Piero della Francesca.