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Lulu Delacre c/o Scholastic
I was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, the middle child in a family of three daughters. My parents are from Argentina. Growing up in the island was a fun-filled experience, where climbing up a tamarindo tree with a friend to eat its fruit was as commonplace as hunting for tiny brown lizards. I used to gently open their mouths and hang them from my earlobes as earrings! My earliest recollections of drawing--I must have been five then--go back to my grandmother's house. My grandma, Elena, was from Uruguay. She babysat my sister and me, in the second floor apartment of an old pink house, while my parents taught at the University of Puerto Rico. She would give me white sheets of paper in which I would draw as I lay on the floor of her bedroom and listened to the classical records she played. I don't remember her ever throwing away one of my pictures. She kept them neatly piled in a corner of her closet. I had my first formal art training when I was ten, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we lived for a year while my father was on sabbatical. There, one of my mother's closest friends, who was a fine artist, and gave painting lessons, encouraged me to join her class. She was the first of several instructors who taught me to draw from real life and with whom I discovered the immense joy of being able to create. When I entered the Department of Fine Arts of the University of Puerto Rico, I knew I wanted a career in art. Later on I was accepted into L'Ecole Supérieure d'Arts Graphiques in Paris, France. By the time I did my thesis, an audio-visual project illustrating Saint Saens' Carnival of the Animals, my wish was to become an illustrator of children's books. I dreamed of creating books inspired by my heritage, books that celebrate the rich folklore and colorful traditions I was nurtured with as a child, books in English and in Spanish. Being an author/illustrator is the most challenging and rewarding work I've ever done. I strive to achieve a high standard in both text and art, a draining task at times. So, with each new book, I eagerly await the moment when I can see the many parts come together in a cohesive whole. I delight in creating books that portray my own culture with authenticity in both words and pictures. And if painting the people and the places of Latin America true to their own beauty fosters respect; or if sharing some of their golden tales builds bridges among children, I want to keep on doing it. Because for me, that is the true measure of success. ¡Viva nuestra herencia! My Books
In this colorful potpourri of songs, riddles, and stories we follow a young girl through a school day in her native Puerto Rico. Each phase of the day highlights folklore that springs form the local culture. Delacre's vibrant illustrations pull you right into the scene and make you feel like you're part of the island's life. 48 fun filled pages include 28 lizards hidden in the pictures. "The arc of a young girl's typical school day gives structure to this presentation of a rich mixture of traditional songs, games, riddles a few simple recipes, and stories from Puerto Rico... The 27 lizards hiding in Delacre's clear, vibrant watercolors depicting a rural town, will demand attention from readers as they pour over the other details of a contemporary society enlivened by tradition."
"Cleverly conceived, the vignettes in this collection of evocative, often touching Latin American short stories connect with a larger fictional narrative and feature a culinary delight (recipes included)."
Click here for more on Salsa Stories!
Cuentos con sazon (Spanish)
The classic poem comes to life in this beautiful children's book, masterfully illustrated by Lulu Delacre.
"What makes the new Lectorum edition different from previous editions of Marti's writings is the breathtaking illustrations by artist Lulu Delacre."
"In this bountifully illustrated collection... the expressive dialogue and
rhythms of the text are well suited for reading aloud... Delacre enhances
the tales with her vivid, sprightly paintings."
Golden Tales: Myths, Legends and Folktales from Latin America (Two editions)
Click here for more on Golden Tales!
"Well written source notes and numerous full-page oil paintings convey the
drama of these ancient civilizations... (the tales') time tested authenticity
is unquestionable."
"Delacre's ...carefully rendered illustrations are attractive, well designed,
and full of amusing and authentic detail (including several bird species
indigenous to Miami)."
El gallo de bodas
Vejigante Masquerader
"Carnival is near, and Ramón longs to masquerade along with the
older boys, the vejigantes, in the month-long celebration. The bilingual
text, along with muted, earth-toned illustrations, settles like a gentle
blanket to embrace readers with subthemes of both personal and cultural
strength and beauty."
Click here for more on Vejigante Masquerader!
Las Navidades: Popular Christmas Songs from Latin America (Bilingual)
"From the gathering of flowers for decoration to the final festivities
of Epiphany, this cheerful collection celebrates the Christmas tradition
of Latin America through the seasonal songs of its countries... A festive
addition to holiday music collections."
Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America
(Bilingual)
1989, Paperback Scholastic, 0-590-41886-6 $4.95 A Horn Book Fanfare Book
"A wonderfully illustrated bilingual nursery rhyme and music book... Unique."
Podria ser que una vez
Nathan's Balloon Adventure
Time for School, Nathan!
Nathan and Nicholas Alexander
Prices and availability are subject to change without notice. My Links Come visit me at my new site! www.luludelacre.com For author appearances in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, contact the Speakers Bureau.
For all other author appearances, visit Scholastic Author Visits Department. Américas Award for Children and Young Adult Literature For a Spanish biography and interview go to www.scholastic.com, click on "teachers", and look for my name under "books and authors".
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I create my books out of love and the conviction that they are sorely needed,
and I've seen them succeed. I've measured their success in the proud smiles
of many Latino children as they join hands with their schoolmates and myself,
in the game song of Arroz con Leche. Or as we all sing vejigante chants
behind paper masks when recreating a carnaval. For when these Latino
children feel their classmates' enjoyment of their own language and heritage,
they know acceptance. They may even glimpse the value of retaining their
parents' traditions and tongue as they embrace new ones.
