Joaquin Moves From Fear to Love

This book is about a young boy, Joaquin, who was born in Guatemala and spent 5 years in a refugee camp, with his Mom and 2 older sisters. They lived in a tent, among many other people. Their life was very challenging, with crowded places and people yelling at him. When he was 5, his family moved to a city and lived in a tall building with 9 floors and elevator. One day he rode the elevator my himself and had a very frightening experience. On each floor, the door opened, and he saw very distressing things from his past or heard yelling from his past. When he finally reached the 9th floor, he saw his Mom and sisters, who welcomed and loved him. He felt very happy and loved and decided to ride the elevator again the next day. He felt confident that that ride would be much better.

JOY PEYTON is a researcher and writer, who works with students and teachers to develop ways to make both writing and reading fun and interesting, often in the language of their home and community. She lives in Virginia and St. Croix with her husband (David) and has two beautiful daughters (Alexa and Nicole), their wonderful husbands (Michael and Evan), and an amazing granddaughter (Makaya).

JACQUELINE LÓ PEZ is an educator, writer, strategist, and Advocate of Inclusive Excellence in Southern California. She grew up in the border towns of Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, CA. She thrives in bilingual/ bicultural spaces and calls attention to the importance of establishing Intercultural Bilingual Junior High Schools in Indigenous communities. She loves to empower children, their families, and education professionals so that students achieve a high-quality and well-rounded education. She has traveled extensively around the world and loved meeting and dancing with the Maasai people in Kenya, Africa.

LISA PIMENTAL is a published illustrator who never lets a day go by without putting some art into it. Practicing many mediums over the years, she only recently began illustrating children's books but has found this to be both engaging and rewarding. When not creating art, she is often finding inspiration for her next project from her young son. Lisa lives with her husband and son in East Aurora, NY.

ADRIENNE MARIBEL LÓ PEZ is a translator and teacher of natural science in New York and San Diego, CA. She and many of her friends and family speak both English and Spanish, whether they were born in the U.S. or in Mexico. She grew up in the sister cities of San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. In her free time, she likes to dance ancient Aztec dances and play a live drum. She enjoys vacationing with her lifetime partner, Josef, in the Sierra Nevada mountains and find good places to fish for and cook trout.