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Author: Robert Liu-Trujillo

Picture Book Recc- Turntable Timmy

Turntable Timmy is a dope picture book that came out in 2001 written by Michael Perry and illustrated by Doug Cunningham. Check out this video where i briefly talk about the book. Request it at your local library or independent bookstore.

Link to video

Here’s the synopsis from the creator:

Do ya like scratchin’. Timmy is determined to Hip-Hop his way to becoming the world’s youngest turntable DJ champion. Readers will have a hip-hop-till-they-drop good time as they discover with Timmy that the key to ultimate success is through perseverance, commitment, and dedication! This kinetic rap-rhyming tale definitely puts the word fun back in funky.

What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 500 picture books y’all! An author who I admire and respect “Adrianna Cuevas” was sharing her favorite books and it inspired me to share some of mine with you. I’ve read ok books, garbage ones, and some that I think are incredible examples of the picture book format. Here and on the socials I’ll be recommending some of my favs. Please support your community and the creators by requesting them at your library or local independent bookstore. Peace. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I am the author and illustrator of Fresh Juice.

Dig this? Check out my first picture book recommendation: Emergency Quarters

May 3, 2025
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Loc’s journey-2003 vs 2024

Quick Locs journey story.

I started growing mine in high school in the mid 90s. Had them from 95-2004. Photo on the left is 2003 at an anti-war protest in San Francisco, California. I cut them shortly after when my son was born.

I started growing my locs again in 2021 during the pandemic. My daughter was about 3 or 4. The photo on the right is me at Bel Canto Books in Long Beach, California back in 2024 I think. Still growing:)

Dig this? Check out a self portrait I painted here

May 2, 2025
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Yoga award > Book

Ok, so I was just going through old work and found this illustration. I created some artwork for Yoga and mindfulness teacher Jill Guerra who teaches in Oakland schools. She was making an award for her students and then wrote a book which I was so honored to do illustrations for. You can order it for your school or local library or you can buy it directly from me. Check out this pose below.

Its amazing how things lead to others!

Dig this? Check out this interview Jill Guerra did about her work and her practice.

April 21, 2025
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Sketchbook Pg 8- Fight Back!

My folks who’ve been down-u already know. For the folks who’ve never been involved in any resistance -paper, calls, emails, protest, direct action. I know, you’re in survival mode. Do what u can. For the folks who have some sort of privilege, get off your ass.

Whether you are old, young, white, Black, Brown, Queer, hetero, disabled, able bodied, red, blue, green, GET INVOLVED w/ organizing against the current gov’t attacks. Join an organization, support independent journalism, volunteer time, art, voice, $, resources, connections, whatever u can-folks have been sounding the alarm and if u haven’t done anything u gotta act-NOW!

Dig this? Share messages of upliftment and RESISTANCE.

April 18, 2025
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The 13th vs Bukele & Trump

In case you mssed it, this documentary lays out in film form much of what Michelle Alexander’s book did about slavery being legal in the US if you’re a prisoner, how the US govt encarcerates more people than any other nation, and how US corporations have profitted from the deliberately racist justice system. This came out in 2016. Watch the entire film here.

Why share this now? Because Trump in the first and current presidency went after Black, Latino, AAPI, and Arab people under the guise of getting rid of illegal immigrants, feeding the lie that people of color are stealing opportunities from White folks, and that these folks are taking money from the USA. On the contrary, immigrants to this country pay taxes, are seeking a better opportunity for their families, and the US will not admit their role in the destablization of dozens of countries in Latin America, Africa, the carribean, Asia, and the middle east. How does this relate to the 13th? Theyre filling prisons in El Salvador with humans who’ve done nothing wrong; students, activists, parents, regular peeople, Latinos, etc. Peep some media about how the president of El Salvador is contributing to this because I’m sure there’s money being made here.

Check out this report from El Salvador by Latino USA correspondants.
Can El Salvador Really Jail Americans?

Dig this? Check out this piece FUCK ICE.

April 16, 2025
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School Visit- Sacajawea Elementary (Seattle)

This month I had the great pleasure of traveling to Seattle Washington to visit Sacajawea Elementary in North Seattle. I’m super grateful for the invitation and was happy to read Fresh Juice and to talk about who I am and what I do.

Thanks to Robin and the whole PTA crew who do a lot of work to fundraise, organize, call, text, and bring parents and kids to events like this. Above you can see the flyer for the event which was not just about me, but bringing in old books for a bookshop, connecting with each other, and inviting lots of different types of people.

So, when I get to read to kids and family I share a couple of things to try and engage folks so its not just me talking but a back and forth.

  • Picture Book Reading
  • Q & A about writing and drawing
  • Fruits, veggies, and community
  • Different types of family structures
  • Character design
  • Art Books
  • History

School and Library Visits: I’ve been visiting students as a storyteller since 2012 yall. I started as an illustrator first and then I became an author. I visit many schools every single year. I’ve been all over the Bay Area and Ive read to students in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Ohio. At this point I’ve visited over 100 libraries and schools. Recently I put out the call to visit more cities in Northern and Central California. If you’d like to invite me to visit your school or library in the Bay or outside of it, I’m open to travel! Shoot me an email at info@robdontstop.com

Dig this? Check out some photos from my visits to Alvarado Elementary in Union City, CA

April 12, 2025
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Everyday Advocacy-Positive video testimony

I was informed about this organization doing some great work to inform everyday folks about the work that educators, teachers, and advocates for literacy do to bring fresh and diverse stories to class rooms. They also provide resources for educators. On their Youtube you can see a varety of different writers sharing their expertise or experiences and they play a key role in helping parents and community members understand what real life teachers are and are not doing in the classroom.

Watch them explain here:

Dig this? Check out this interview with the Multicultural Classroom or peep the Social Justice Children’s Book Fair

April 11, 2025
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Upcoming: Bay Area Book Festival panel

Hey, the Bay Area Book Festival is upon us and I am happy to be participating as a panelist on May 31st and June 1st. The above panel on Day 2 of the fair will be for all those folks in the Bay who are thinking of self publishing or getting into the children’s book industry and want to hear about the strategies we emplored to get in. Panelists Zetta Elliott, Maya Gonzales, Matthew Smith, myself, and moderator Laura Atkins have a combined 80+ years worth of experience working in this field. Come thru!

LINK TO SCHEDULE

Dig this? Check out this panel I was on for the Akonadi Foundation

April 11, 2025
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Panther Cubs short film

This is a great short film about the lives of 3 descendants of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, New York, and Chicago. These are the grown kids of some heavy hitters and have some very vulnerable and powerful words to share about their upbringing. With chapters all across the United States and many internationally, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense influenced activism all over the world and still scares the powers that be now. But that came at great sacrifice and as a child of movement parents, I know this one well. I’m happy to see this doc. Please watch it and share it.

Dig this? Check out the dramatic narrative about Fred Hampton Judas and The Black Messiah

April 10, 2025
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