This was an excellent video about a little known fact about US and White history here in America. Apartheid. Jim Crow. Basically separate worlds and laws for White Americans and everyone else, especially Black Americans. And this was not that long ago, 50 maybe 60 years ago. For context, I am 46 years old. My mother is 65.
Dig this? Check out the Contract Buyers League
Pretty cool to have my book “Fresh Juice” added to the California Dept of Education’s recommended list! Check it out from your local public library or request it at your local independent bookstore. Via Lee & Low Books.
Dig this? Check out this reading of the book by Storyline Online feat Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Ey, heres an OG picture book I used to read to my son. Gathering the sun written by Alma Flor Ada and illustrated by Simón Silva. Check out the video and share with anyone who’d be interested. You can request this book at your local library or cop it from here.
Dig this? Check out “A New Kind of Wild” by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
This was a great show from Amanda Seales (Journalist, Comedian, former emcee). What critics of her don’t get is that she is not falling for the bullshit and if half of them really supported icons like Fannie Lou Hamer, Baldwin, Malcolm, etc they would be listening instead of trying to get click bate.
Anyways, I loive how she not only does her own research and analysis for us but she invites others own with knowledge to game us up as well. Case in point, today she had on two Korean American organizers on from Nodutdol an organization whos purpose is:
“We are diasporic Koreans and comrades based in occupied Indigenous lands known as the United States and Canada. We organize for a world free of imperialism, and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation.“
Nodutdol organizers Jamie and Heath talk about the history of US imperialism in Korea, how South Korea is still occupied by the US, how North Korea is propagandized, and how this relates to Gaza, Guam, India, Puerto Rico and so much untold history. I learned a lot as someone with a parent born in Korea! Starting at the 2:12:00 mark, listen to this interview and get you some game.
Dig this? Check out this short story about Haenyeo or this illustration of a Jeju diver .
Red Nation is a new podcast I started listening to last year. This episode offers a great perspective from the host (a Native American professor/author) on manifest destiny and how it relates to colonialism globally and at home. The words and the images are not by accident and I feel this episode gives some great historical points from the past that relate to Native folks in the US of course but also to people in the global south.
Dig this? Check out this video about the legacy of Native children stolen (colonization) or this illustration I did in solidarity with Standing Rock.
I have been a fan of Zara Gonzalez Hoang’s work for awhile and I was delighted to read this one when it came out. It’s a hit in my house. Me and my wife had read it quite a few times and we love it.
Synopsis: This sweet author-illustrator debut celebrates imagination, the magic of friendship, and all the different ways we make a new place feel like home.
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 600 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 other picture book recommendations:
This week a new episode of the “Early Risers” podcast dropped featuring Zsame Morgan of Baby Cakes Books out in Minneapolis, Yuyi Morales in Mexico, and Meleck Davis of Minneapolis. I was so honored to be on the show and really enjoyed several of their episodes. I’m just getting familiar with Meleck’s work, but Zsame is one of the first indy bookstores to support my book Furqan’s First Flat Top and Yuyi is an OG in the kid lit world.
Early Risers is a podcast that focuses on early childhood education. Specifically, how to talk to children about race, representation, kids books, and mirrors and windows by Dr Rudine Bishop Sims.
Dig this? Check out this interview w/ Colin Ehara for his show The Paper Planes
Grace Lin is an OG in the kid lit space both as an author illustrator and as an Asian American creator. The book I mention here is an oldie that I used to read to my son but now I read to my daughter. And it still holds up. Peep the synopsis below.
Synopsis: The Ugly Vegetables is based on a childhood experience. Grace’s mother grew Chinese vegetables in her garden while all the neighbors grew flowers. Year after year Grace looked with disgust at the ugly garden and asked, “Why can’t we grow flowers?” Her mother always answered, “Because these are better than flowers.” Grace never agreed until one day…
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 600 picture books y’all! An author who I admire and respect “Adrianna Cuevas” was sharing her favorite middle grade 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 other picture book recommendations:
Ey, Bodies Are Cool is a really great book and its a hit in my household. Check out this video where I explain. I love this book because it flows, it’s short and to the point. And it really does emphasize an understanding and curiosity to see all types of people and bodies.
Synopsis: This cheerful love-your-body picture book for preschoolers is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over.
From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party and Roaring Softly, this picture book is a pure celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types is just the beginning in this truly inclusive book. With its joyful illustrations and encouraging refrain, it will instill body acceptance and confidence in the youngest of readers. “My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!”
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 600 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 other picture book recommendations:
Hey this past week I had a chance to do a workshop introduction to picture books at CCA (California College of the Arts) for a group of MFA Comics students. I don’t know if they enjoyed it but I had hella fun. I brought a gang of picture books in English, Spanish, different mediums, newer ones, older ones, and different types of people. I talked about my most recent book “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” and many others by some of my favorite authors and illustrators. Photos by Thi Bui.
In this workshop we discussed:
I have been consulting with individuals and organizations for years about how to make picture books and after doing this workshop I realized how much I really enjoyed talking about what it takes to make one live and in person. If you’re interested in getting some basic info from me about it, check out this PDF I made for newbies.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation or invite me to speak at your college please email me at info@robdontstop.com
BIG shout out to my homie and big sis Thi Bui (The Best We Could Do) who is a phenomenal cartoonist, illustrator, and professor. Big shout out to the homie Justin Hall, another fabulous cartoonist and professor who invited me to lead a workshop alongside some greats such as Ajuan Mance, Fred Noland, and Tyler Cohen.
Dig this? Check out the presentation I did for Modesto Jr College and my visit to the Austin Book Festival