Spotlight: Monica Brown
Story by: Bill Peden
TALES OF REPRESENTATION—
“You never know what role your books will have in children’s lives...so I consider it more than a vocation. It is a passion, lifelong love, and honor to write for children.” Monica Brown is an acclaimed children’s book author who creates stories inspired by her Peruvian Jewish heritage. As a child she used books to transport to new literary worlds and escape troubles in her own. Now as an author she successfully creates the highest quality books for children who need them the most.
MONICA’S DEDICATION to her craft has not gone unnoticed and she’s received many honors from her peers, including but not limited to, the Américas Book Award for Children’s Literature, the Pura Belpré Honor, and The Christopher Award. Her accolades are many, but blue ribbons are not why Monica Brown has poured her soul into her children’s stories for over 13 years. The awards are milestones in her journey but Brown’s true honor is in the ability to “share (her) beautiful culture with the world and connect with LatinX children and their parents.”
Like most artists Monica’s path to success has not been a linear one. It’s one filled with lessons learned through triumphs and failures and invaluable mentors. Monica is humble to give thanks to all that have helped her on her way, but it’s clear her mother is the most important inspiration in shaping the writer today.
Identity was important for Brown’s mother; she never let her daughter feel different for only being “half” Latino. “My Mother never let me feel like a fraction. I was always a whole.” This later inspired Monica to later create the story Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match. Marisol McDonald is a biracial Peruvian-Scottish- American girl with red hair and brown skin who just doesn't match others’ expectations. Her mother would continue to influence her as a writer. As an artist and a painter in her own right, she was Brown’s biggest proponent. Through her mother’s confidence she acquired the boldness to follow her dream, and by the end of high school, the aspiring scribe was ready to take the next step.
“Most kids out of high school don’t know what they want to do when they enter university.” Not Monica Brown. She declared at UC Santa Barbara as an English Major before even her first day of classes. The confidence garnered from her mother, Maria Vexler Valdivieso’s support was more than just an obligatory positive push from a caring mother. Maria was a very talented painter turned successful business woman with an eye for artistic talent. Brown knew her Mom’s opinion was based on more than everlasting maternal love.
After graduating from UC Santa Barbara she went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D in English. Out of school Monica used her degree and worked as a journalist, academic scholar, and eventually a professor. Monica had met her husband and started a family all while earning tenure at the university. Always disciplined and an astute worker, for many English Ph.D.’s this would seem like the normal time to “settle in”. Yet, as she began to share her love of literature with her young children, Brown looked around and didn't see any children’s books with characters of mixed race, that celebrated diverse multicultural heritages like her’s, or even stories for young readers about Latino idols. “So I decided to write the books I wanted my children to read, and because my Mom was an artist, a painter, I really understood what it took to write (for children).”
“SO I DECIDED TO WRITE THE BOOKS I WANTED MY CHILDREN TO READ, AND BECAUSE MY MOM WAS AN ARTIST, A PAINTER, I REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT TOOK TO WRITE FOR CHILDREN.”
Brown began writing children's books that reflected the significant contributions of the people of the Latin American heritage. In 2004 Brown published her first children's book, My Name is Celia: the Life of Celia Cruz, and like most of her stories, it was published bilingually in English and Spanish. The debut book won the Américas Award for Children's Literature. In the book Waiting for the Biblioburro, Brown tells the true story of a Colombian educator who reaches remote communities in Colombia with a donkey powered library. In 2018, Brown launched a chapter-book series Sarai, co-authored with internet sensation Sarai Gonzalez.
Any and all praise the prolific author receives for her commitment to providing diverse, multicultural stories is obviously deserved, but this should not overshadow the quality of her storytelling. Monica has the ability to create complex unique ideas out of simple questions. Like when her daughter asked where chewing gum comes from, the mother switched into artist mode and devised the utterly unique story Chavela and The Magic Bubble where a little girl blows a bubble so big it lifts her off the ground and carries her on a magical journey.
Monica has devoted her time and talents to countless charities and literacy programs over the years including the Reading Rockstar Program which donates books to school and allows students to meet their authors.
Although she would be the first to admit that no artist is a consummate creative master, Monica Brown has sharpened her talents in such a way that her writing is perhaps beyond subjectivity; multilingual tales punctuating past experiences and rich diverse heritage through illustrated storytelling. The message is her own pure truth. Admiration personified and experiences gained on the path of life. Most importantly, Monica’s stories are written for all children, all parents, and anyone who believes in the power of books. +