Antonio Alanis Art Podcast

In this Immigrant Heritage Month episode, I reflect on the journey of writing and illustrating Clarita Migrates North and the unexpected impact the book has had over the past 10 months. I share stories from school visits, community readings, and conversations with families who saw their own migration experiences reflected in Clarita’s story. We explore the power of representation, storytelling, and what happens when children finally see themselves in the books they read.

In this episode, I open up about the beginning stages of creating my second children’s picture book and why this project feels deeply personal to me. Unlike past projects, I’m sharing this story while it’s still unfolding, including the uncertainty, the emotional exploration, and the creative process behind it.I reflect on how creating and sharing Clarita Migrates North transformed me as an artist and storyteller, especially after witnessing how deeply children, families, and communities connected with seeing themselves represented in literature. That experience pushed me to continue exploring children’s books as spaces for belonging, healing, and reflection.This new story centers around a child who feels different. This book can be a great way to talk about explores themes of identity, culture, language, neurodivergence, and existing between worlds. I talk about the emotional inspiration behind the imagery of stars, why the feeling of being “out of place” resonates with so many people, and the importance of creating stories that remind children they do not have to erase parts of themselves in order to belong.I also share a moving comment that deeply affirmed why I’m creating this book and why representation in children’s literature matters so much.Thank you for listening and supporting this journey. This podcast is sponsored by Antonio Alanís Art and made possible through the support of my children’s picture book, Clarita Migrates North. Every book purchase, share, and recommendation helps continue this work and the creation of stories centered on culture, identity, and belonging. To support my work, head out to antonioalanisart.com/books 

In this episode I want to talk about the importance of documentign our work as we go when applying to art grants.