Illustrator & Author Profile
Angela Dominguez
15 Books
Angela Dominguez is an award-winning author and illustrator of many beloved children's books, including Maria Had a Little Llama. She also creates the vibrant artwork for popular series like Lola Levine and acclaimed picture books such as Just Help!. Her work beautifully celebrates her Mexican-American heritage and the joy of family.
Abuelo arrives from Mexico with a guitar in his hands and a lifetime of songs in his heart. During his yearly visit, his grandchildren listen as music turns memories into something they can share, even when those memories include hard times. Inspired by Angela Dominguez’s grandfather, mariachi musician Apolinar Navarrete Diaz, this tender picture book celebrates family, Mexican culture, and the comfort of singing together. Young readers are invited into a warm story where music is more than performance: it is a way to remember, to love, and to feel brave when life is not easy.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella is not like a betta fish, even when she feels lonely at school. Her best friend Jenny is in another class, a new boy has arrived, and Stella wants to make a friend without getting embarrassed. Sometimes Spanish words come out when she means to speak English, and sometimes she worries about saying words the wrong way. Then she has to give a class presentation about the subject she loves most. Warm, funny, and illustrated throughout, this first Stella Díaz chapter book speaks to readers who know what it feels like to be shy, brave, and ready to be heard.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
209 Pages
A tiny new baby is welcomed home with tenderness, Spanish words, and a cozy wrap that turns the little one into a baby burrito. Step by step, caring hands tuck in each little leg and arm, leaving one sweet face peeking out. Angela Dominguez’s gentle picture book celebrates the love surrounding a newborn and the simple rituals families use to make a baby feel safe. With warm illustrations and bilingual language woven naturally into the text, this is a soft, affectionate read for children who enjoy family stories, new-baby books, and the joy of saying I love you in more than one language.
6-8 Years
17 Pages
Maria’s little llama is not the kind of animal who stays quietly behind. One school day, the playful llama follows Maria all the way to class, bringing a bright new setting to a rhyme many readers already know.
This bilingual picture book retells “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in English and Spanish, with a Peruvian-inspired twist. Young readers can enjoy the familiar rhythm while meeting Maria, her lively llama, and a warm school-day world filled with color and movement.
Gentle, musical, and easy to read aloud, Maria Had a Little Llama is a lovely choice for children who enjoy nursery rhymes, animal stories, and books that celebrate language and culture.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
A girl loves to draw, while her mother loves to knit. Drawing feels free and colorful; knitting looks wonderful but can also be tricky and frustrating. When a beach trip sparks new ideas, mother and daughter begin to see that their talents do not have to stay separate. One can imagine the picture, and the other can help turn it into something warm, useful, and shared. Angela Dominguez’s picture book is a gentle celebration of creativity, patience, and family teamwork. Young readers who enjoy art, crafts, and stories about making something together will find a warm reminder that different skills can fit beautifully side by side.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Gabby Torres is nine, bold, and absolutely ready to make her mark. As the youngest member of the Sea Musketeers, the environmental club started by Stella Díaz, Gabby wants to prove she belongs. Her brilliant idea is to create a social media page for the club, but her parents think she is too young to be online. Gabby is sure she can handle it anyway, until online meanies and a too-big plan pull her into trouble. Told with graphic-novel energy for readers moving into chapter books, this funny school story follows a determined fourth grader learning that big ideas still need care, guidance, and friends who can help.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
162 Pages
Hugo is a well-dressed little bird with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower from the ground. The problem is that he has never flown up to see it. When cheerful Lulu invites him to fly with her, Hugo keeps finding reasons to stay safely below, leading her through the park instead of into the sky. A kind owl, a patient friend, and Hugo’s own small sparks of courage may help him face what scares him most. This charming picture book gives young readers a gentle story about fear, friendship, and trying something new when you are not sure you are ready.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Stella Díaz wants the new year to go perfectly. Her family is preparing to become U.S. citizens, and the Sea Musketeers are ready to present their plastics pledge to the school council. Stella has a schedule, a plan, and a strong belief that she can help everyone who needs her. Then life becomes much less tidy than her notebook. As plans shift and people she cares about face hard moments, Stella begins to learn that rescuing others does not always mean fixing everything. Sometimes it means showing up, listening, and staying close. This warm chapter book blends friendship, family, environmental action, and Stella’s gentle determination.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
135 Pages
Stella Díaz is thrilled when her mother plans a trip to visit family in Mexico. She loves marine animals and can hardly wait to see the ocean for the first time. But the trip brings a surprise Stella did not expect: the sea and the creatures living in it are being hurt by pollution. Stella wants to help, even though the problem feels much bigger than one person. With old friends, new friends, and her own quiet courage, she begins to see how a shy kid can still make a difference. This illustrated chapter book combines family, culture, friendship, and environmental activism in a hopeful story for growing readers.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
157 Pages
Lola Levine plays soccer hard, writes in her diario, and has a big heart, even when second grade gets complicated. After a recess game goes wrong and a classmate gets hurt, Lola is suddenly stuck with a nickname she hates: Mean Lola Levine. She knows she did not mean to hurt anyone, but proving that to her classmates is not simple. With help from her family, her best friend Josh, and her own pencil power, Lola tries to understand what happened and find a way forward. This lively first chapter book mixes school worries, friendship, family, soccer, and humor in a story about mistakes, labels, and learning how to speak up for yourself.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
62 Pages
Fifth grade should make Stella Díaz feel grown-up and ready for anything. Instead, the future keeps getting bigger. Stella is one of the older kids at school now, but middle school is suddenly on the horizon. Her best friends Jenny and Stanley are still beside her, yet a possible art and science program at a magnet school could send Stella in a new direction. Her brother is getting college mail, and a school project places her with someone from her past who still makes things difficult. In this thoughtful final Stella Díaz novel, readers follow Stella through friendship worries, family changes, and the uneasy excitement of growing up.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
133 Pages
Imagine your grandmother moving far away from her sunny home filled with parrots and palm trees just to live with you in the city. When Mia's abuela arrives, they want to share everything, but there is one big problem. Abuela does not speak English, and Mia does not know enough Spanish to understand her grandmother's wonderful stories. As they cook together, they try to teach each other new words, but it is still very hard to communicate. Then Mia spots a bright parrot in a pet shop window and comes up with the perfect plan to help them talk to each other. You will be touched by this beautiful story about patience, learning, and the creative ways we connect with the people we care about. It is a heartwarming journey that shows how love can easily bridge any language gap in a family.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Lola Levine has waited and waited for the day her family gets a furry pet. When they bring home a kitten named Jelly, Lola is ready for cuddles, games, and plenty of excitement. Then her brother Ben starts sneezing, and the whole plan falls apart: he is allergic. Lola is heartbroken, but she also knows Jelly needs a safe and loving home. With her usual humor, strong feelings, and determined spirit, Lola tries to solve a problem that is much harder than she expected. This gentle, funny chapter book is a good fit for readers who like family stories, pets, and characters who care fiercely even when things do not go their way.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
56 Pages
Every night before bed, Sonia is asked the exact same question by her mother: How did you help today? Because Sonia wants to support her community just like her family does, she always makes sure she has a wonderful answer ready. Join Sonia on an inspiring journey through her neighborhood as she discovers all the amazing ways people can make a difference. You will meet kids and adults, bus drivers and activists, friends and strangers who all step up to help one another. Whether it is a small act of kindness or a big community project, this uplifting story shows how working together builds a brighter, better world for everyone. Get ready to ask yourself how you can lend a hand and be a great neighbor today!
6-8 Years
33 Pages
Fourth grade is full of big plans for Stella Díaz. She is leading the Sea Musketeers conservation club, trying swim lessons, joining an art club, and hoping to keep up with everything at once. At first, it feels exciting to have so many things to do. Then schoolwork gets harder, her schedule gets crowded, and Stella starts to feel as if she is drifting in deep water. With friends beside her and plenty of determination, Stella has to figure out how to chase her dreams without losing herself along the way. This illustrated chapter book offers a relatable story about school, creativity, ocean conservation, and learning your limits.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
141 Pages
