FUTURE CHILDREN’S AUTHOR! This is me when I was 8ish. Behind those wispy brown bangs and hopeful bright eyes, I was dreaming up the kind of books I wanted to write.
I was born a few minutes after midnight on April 11th. My mom named me Angela because she said when they brought me to her, I looked like an angel. She still thinks I look like an angel. 😉 You can learn how to pronounce my name here.
Being a children’s author and writing stories about Latinx children is my childhood dream. It is is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do in my life. The next best thing would be running a home for rescued animals. Also, I wouldn’t mind owning an empanada truck.
Back to writing children’s books
I’ve been writing short stories, poetry, and novels since I was a child. In the summer, I used to tell scary stories to my friends. It was such a rush to scare them silly. At school, my teachers used to read my stories and poems aloud in class. It embarrassed me, but I also liked it. I still feel that way about writing.
My latest children’s novel is a scary story called The Cursed Moon. You can read more about it here.
My other novels include Lety Out Loud, which is a Pura Belpré Honor Book; Gaby, Lost and Found, which was named Best Youth Chapter book by the International Latino Book Awards and a Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books; Allie, First At Last, which received a starred-review from Kirkus Book Review and; Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring which was named a Junior Guild Selection and included in the Texas’ prestigious Bluebonnet Master List for 2019-2020. Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring is a mystery novel based in Mexico City and inspired by legendary artist Frida Kahlo. Read more about it here: Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring.
I also collaborated with American Girls Dolls for their World By Us series which includes my book about a Mexican American soccer player who also advocates for immigrant reform. It’s called Maritza: Lead With Your Heart. Read more about it here: Lead With Your Heart. I also adapted Disney/Pixar’s Oscar award-winning movie Coco, into a junior novel and wrote Disney’s Encanto: Junior Novelization.
Where can you find my books?
All of my books are available for sale wherever you buy books. When you can, please support independent, local bookstores in your community. Most of my children’s novels are also available as audiobooks. If you don’t want to buy a book, check your local library. If one of my books is not on the library shelf, ask them to kindly order it for you. I bet they do because libraries are awesome. Check out my books here.
Finally, I’m super proud of the children’s novels I’ve written because they’re exactly the type of children’s books that I wanted to read when I was a nine-year-old book worm.
If you want to learn more about me and my books, I also have a Youtube channel. Please check it out when it’s convenient for you. 🙂
Check out Angela’s Youtube Channel
Fun facts about me!
- I’m a proud Mexican American. My grandpa traveled from the state of Jalisco, Mexico to the United States at the age of fourteen. My grandma was from El Paso, Texas.
- I’m a Kansas girl just like my main character, Paloma, from Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring.
- If you have a pretzel, I will ask you for a bite.
- I cry during the World Cup, Olympics and March Madness (Go Jayhawks!)
- I was editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, The Highland Park Bagpiper.
- In middle school, I played the snare drum.
- My first language is English, but I like to practice Español too. 🙂
- One of my favorite cities in the whole world is Guadalajara, Mexico! I lived there for nearly three years.
- Another city I love is Brownsville, Texas. I lived there for two years after graduating from college and it really made a positive impact on me. I miss the RGV!
- I’m a daughter of a retired elementary teacher.
- My pronouns are she/her/hers.
- I’m a Jayhawk! I graduated with an English degree from the University of Kansas.
- I will stop my car to help any furry, feathered or reptile friend cross the street safely.
Interviews with Angela Cervantes
Interview with Angela Cervantes by Héctor Rendón for Latino Book Review (2021)
Topeka author Angela Cervantes to write junior novel for Disney’s ‘Encanto’ after writing ‘Coco’ (Topeka Capital- Journal; July 2021)
The Power of Story by Angela Cervantes; School Library Journal (March 2019)
Local Author Transformed Disney’s Coco into Novel; Kansas City Star (January 2018)
Interview with Angela Cervantes; The Latino Book Review (January 2018)
Interview with Angela Cervantes; La Bloga (Dec. 2016)
Angela Cervantes: Writing What She Loves; Whispering Prairie Press (October 2016)
Gutsy, Funny, and Flawed: Crafting Strong Latina Characters; School Library Journal (May 2016)
Piñata Busters and Trailblazers, Guest Post; Latin@s in KidLit (March 2016)
Meet acclaimed author Angela Cervantes; Scholastic blog: On Our Minds (April 2016)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, Allison’s Book Bag (July 2014)
Angela Cervantes on Publishing and her Animal-loving Latina Protagonist; Latinos in KidLit (May, 2014)
Angela Cervantes talks about her name, Teachingbooks.com (May, 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, La Bloga (May 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, Musings of a Children’s Writer (March 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, The Debutante Ball (Dec. 2013)
