Authors Live Reading Zone
Ana Ruiz Morillo
Ana Iris Ruiz Morillo is a bilingual educator, group facilitator, founder, and director of Training To Impact LLC, a company dedicated to empowering communities through inclusive training and programs for positive change. Since her childhood in her homeland, in the Dominican Republic, Ana has demonstrated a commitment to empathy, equity, and community collaboration, which is reflected in her work with the most vulnerable communities. Her dedication is also reflected in her new children’s book, Superhéroes del Planeta, a bilingual book she will read to children attending the Oregon Book Fair.
Rachel Kimbrow
Rachel Kearney Kimbrow is an author, educator, and founder of Linda Letra Bilingual Books, dedicated to promoting equity through literacy for bilingual families and schools. With over 20 years of teaching experience in the U.S. and Latin America, she has supported multilingual learners as a K-2 teacher, K-6 ELD specialist, and instructional coach. Rachel has shared thousands of books with bilingual children and trained educators in language acquisition and bilingual teaching practices. She is the author of Exchange to Engage (2019), De la A a la Z (2022), and The Roller Skating Competition – La competencia de patinaje artístico de ruedas (2023).
Michelle Nicola
Michelle Nicola is an instructional coach and Spanish teacher. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish at the University of Oregon. In 2014 she was the winner of the Excellence in Education Award from Learning for Justice (a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center). She was the recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching in 2018, which provided him the opportunity
to live in Xalapa, Mexico and learn from the rich Afro-Mexican culture. Her publications include several articles for Rethinking Schools and her first novel Cabello que baila
written with her dear friend Daniela López Carreto. Michelle loves making connections between people through language, laughter, and learning.
Reynaldo Mora
Reynaldo (Rey) Mora, M.F.A., (b. Los Angeles, 1976) is an artist with extensive experience creating fine art with clay, acrylics, chalk, pastel, oils, photography, and mixed media. Rey earned a Bachelor of Studio Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Los Angeles. He is the co-founderand co-owner of Skillful & Soulful Press, a family operated, award- winning independent publisher that publishes poetry books, educational material, art prints and parent child stationary. Through its imprint, Casa Colibrí Books, it publishes socially impactful bilingual and trilingual children’s books that promote a love of language.
The theme that most resonates with Rey’s artwork is movement because he feels that there is life, progress, and growth in movement. His first illustrated children’s book, Mommy, Tell Me Why I Am Radiant, won two International Latino Book Awards.
Sandra Gonzalez Mora
Sandra Gonzalez-Mora, M.Ed., was born in Mexico City and immigrated with her family to Los Angeles when she was 4 years old. Her expertise in children’s books comes from her 22-year career in early childhood education where she uses books to help parents and preschool teachers prepare young children for kindergarten. Together with her family, she is on a mission to increase the number of bilingual books that help introduce children to a sophisticated vocabulary. Sandra, her husband, Reynaldo Mora, M.F.A., and young adult children write, illustrate and publish bilingual picture books from their home in Whittier, CA. They founded Skillful & Soulful Press in 2017. Their first bilingual book, Mommy, Tell Me Why I Am Radiant / Mami, ¿dime por qué soy radiante? received two International Latino Book Awards.
Ana Vélez
Ana Gabriela Vélez is an author, illustrator, and teacher living in Portland. She was born in Quito, Ecuador, and was drawn to art from a very young age. With her grandmother, she molded clay flowers, painted wooden houses, and glued little birds to a papier-mâché tree. As an adult, she began her career in Graphic Design in Louisiana, and this profession led her to the world of early childhood education. Through her work with children and the use of design and color as teaching tools, she discovered a deeper and more engaging side to her calling. She then completed a Master’s degree in Education in Washington, specializing in children with learning disabilities. Since then, she has been working with and learning from neurodivergent students in Oregon public schools.
Mitzeline González
Mitzeline González is a passionate elementary school teacher, writer, and advocate for education, originally from Mexico. Raised in a family of educators and orators, she developed an early love for literature, poetry, and public speaking. With a background in clinical psychology and a degree in elementary education, she has guided students in literary competitions and served as a judge and advisor in cultural events. She also ran for federal deputy in 2015 and co-founded Unidos sin fronteras, a charitable association supporting low-income families.
After immigrating to Oregon, she overcame challenges by working in agriculture and later opened La Escuelita de Mitzy, a daycare focused on early childhood development. Now a mother of two, Mitzeline is pursuing her passion for writing self-help and children’s books, driven by her belief in the power of dreams and each person’s potential to make a positive impact.
Herlín Álvarez
Director and certified teacher for Early Start Preschool and Childcare Center. She discovered her passion for working with young children while being part of a center that catered to 2- and 3-year-olds. In 2016, she opened a family childcare center, where she could provide a nurturing and supportive environment for children and their families. At the end of 2022, with the support of her daughter Mildred, Herlín felt compelled to expand their reach and provide more children of various ages with exceptional care and education. Thus, she embarked on the process of establishing an Early Start Preschool and Childcare Center. Herlín believes in the power of early education and the positive impact it can have on a child’s future.
Emmanuel Valtierra
Mexican-American artist Emmanuel Valtierra studied Graphic Design in the University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) and Photography in San Antonio College. After some time, he adopted the aztec codex style for most of his works bringing him attention from the public and press. To stablish himself as a “tlacuilo”, he released a series of pop culture images, playing cards, and book. All with Aztec style.
The love Valtierra has for history has influenced him on all his projects. The goal is to keep teaching new generations about our past in a fun way in every media possible. Some of his most populare releases are: Codex Valtierra (sidewise award), Codice peregrino (white raven award), Aztec tarot, Blue beetle #1 (DC comics variant cover art), and many more.
Patricia Aguilar Morrissey
Mexican-American artist Emmanuel Valtierra studied Graphic Design at the University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) and Photography at San Antonio College. After some time, he adopted the Aztec codex style for most of his works bringing him attention from the public and press. To stabilize himself as a “tlacuilo”, he released a series of pop culture images, playing cards, and book. All with Aztec style.
The love Valtierra has for history has influenced him on all his projects. The goal is to keep teaching new generations about our past in a fun way in every media possible.
Some of his most popular releases are: Codex Valtierra (sidewise award), Codice peregrino (white raven award), Aztec tarot, Blue beetle #1 (DC comics variant cover art), and many more.