October Events

Filipino children's book author events, children's bookstore events, children's book festival, Filipino book festival for October 2023 in San Jose, Bay area, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Orange County, and Long Beach.

Bay Area friends! I’ll be in San Jose at my first official Bay area event on Friday, October 6, and I’ve also got some other fun events planned in Orange County and Long Beach. I’ll be there with treats in tow.  Hope to see you there!

📅 Sunday, October 1

⏰ Signing 1-2 pm at Booth B17

📍OC Children’s Book Festival

Orange Coast College

2701 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

📅 Friday, October 6

⏰ Author Visit 4:00-5:30 pm

📍San Jose Public Library

Berryessa Branch

3355 Noble Avenue

San Jose, CA 95132

📅 Thursday, October 19

⏰ Signing 5-7 pm

📍Barnes & Noble Tustin

Grand Opening Week

The District (next to Whole Foods)

2857 Park Ave

Tustin, CA 92782

📅 Saturday, October 21

⏰ Reading at 1 pm

📍Liwanag Lit Fest

Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library

5870 Atlantic Avenue

Long Beach, CA 90805

The 'Ber Months Are Here

The BER months are here and that means the holiday season has begun in the Philippines! You can catch a glimpse of the longest holiday season in the world in the September spread of Maribel’s Year, where Maribel’s papa makes traditional Christmas parol lanterns by hand to hang on the doors of all of her titos’ and titas’ homes.

Christmas in the Philippines with colorful parol lanterns in September in Filipino picture book Maribel's Year.

The Only Way to Make Bread

A picture book about bread.
A children's book about baking bread, family and community.
A children's book about baking bread, family and community.
A kids' book about baking bread in different cultures.
A children's book about baking bread, family and community.

Fresh out of the oven is this joyous ode to bread-making in all of its savory and sweet forms.  I especially love it because It’s illustrated by Sarah Gonzales, who was the illustrator for Maribel’s Year!  There are so many ways to make bread around the world, but the secret ingredient is always the same.  What is it, you ask?  You’ll have to read to find out!  Don’t miss this lovely celebration of baking and breaking bread, family, traditions and community!

The Only Way to Make Bread was written by Cristina Quintero, illustrated by Sarah Gonzales and published by Tundra Books.  Out soon on October 3!

Author Visits 2023-2024

Children's book author visits for schools and libraries in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Southern California, Northern California and the United States.

I’m booking in-person and virtual author visits for the 2023-24 school year!  To read about the different kinds of presentations I give and to request an author visit at your school or library, read my profile on Authors Out Loud’s website. 🖊️📚

I also just baked pumpkin gluten-free blondies.  They came out a touch cakier because of the addition of pumpkin, so I’ll have to sort that out in the next bake.  But!  They are still delicious!  Two secret ingredients I added that I think really takes them over the top: chopped Green & Black white chocolate and a tablespoon of boiled apple cider.

Usually it’s blazing hot here in September, but the weather has strangely taken a turn for the cold and gray.  It’s got me thinking of all things fall, of course.  I’d love to hear your favorite fall eats and sweets! 🍁

A Place Called America: A Story of the Land and People

A picture book about the history of America, its land and its people.
A picture book about the history of America, its land and its people.
A picture book about the history of America, its land and its people.
A picture book about the history of America, its land and its people.
A picture book about the history of America, its land and its people.

America’s history has been a complicated one, and in her new beautifully detailed picture book, author/illustrator Jennifer Thermes recounts it with thoughtfulness and inclusivity.  America’s story is that of Indigenous peoples, European colonizers, Pilgrims, enslaved individuals, and later people of all different walks of life settling in this country.  A great addition to home and school libraries!

A Place Called America: A Story of the Land and People was written and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers.