Xelena González practices the healing arts through writing and movement. She is a storyteller, dancer, and visiting author who centers self-love in her multi-disciplinary workshops for all ages. Her award-winning picture books include All Around Us and Where Wonder Grows. A former librarian and enrolled member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, Xelena has become a sought-after speaker on topics such as radical self love, creative early literacy strategies, inhabiting story through music and movement, and reclaiming indigenous identity in Latinx communities. She still lives in San Antonio, where she grew up. Find out more at xelena.space.

Adriana M. Garcia is a visual artist, a muralist, and an illustrator. She is the recipient of a Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for Where Wonder Grows and a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for All Around Us, both picture books by Xelena González. Garcia has exhibited her artwork nationally and has presented at conferences, schools, and museums around the United States. She especially loves painting portraits of strong women to honor those who have come before and those who continue to lead by example. Garcia lives in San Antonio, Texas, and you can find her online at adrianamjgarcia.com.

* "The lovely illustrations and lyrical text combine to evoke peace, calm, and interconnectedness. This celebration of family, ties to the Earth, and the cycle of life is even more glorious in this translation. An intergenerational tale for all picture-book collections." -- Booklist, starred review

"All Around Us begs to be shared over and over. The use of lines and strokes conveys energy, spirit, magic. And I love the way it connects us all to the idea that we come from inside, from the earth, from something gentle and primal, and that is where go back to--and we better take care of it" -- Yuyi Morales

"A girl and her grandfather contemplate circles, both physical and metaphorical, in this thought-provoking tale of family, community, and interconnection." -- Publishers Weekly

"This warm, gentle story that celebrates family, culture, community and the connectedness of all things. . . All Around Us is a quiet, beautiful story, and is highly recommended." -- Beverly Slapin, De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children

"The author's direct approach and light touch soften the otherwise weighty subject matter. . . Life-affirming in its quiet splendor." -- Kirkus Reviews

"It's gorgeous, quite frankly." -- School Library Journal

"A transcendent, perfectly gorgeous book." -- Naomi Shihab Nye

American Indian Youth Literature Award - American Indian Library Association
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

Campoy-Ada Award - Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española
Premios y honores por la edición en inglés - American Library Association (ALA)
Southwest Books of the Year - Pima County Public Library