All Around Us
2018 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
2018 American Indian Youth Literature Award: Picture Book Honor
2018 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
2018 Texas Institute of Letters Literary Award for Best Picture Book
2018 Int'l Latino Book Award: Best First Book - Children & Youth
2018 Skipping Stones Honor Award: Nature and Ecology Books
Grandpa says circles are all around us.
We just have to look for them.
Workshops
Tai Chi Storytelling
In this unique and dynamic program, Xelena will follow a reading of her book All Around Us with a movement-based retelling of the tale. Drawing upon her experience living in China, she will introduce participants to the basics of tai chi in a way that will make the story meaningful and unforgettable. Time permitting, participants will then engage in a group story circle that will involve their own ideas and movements inspired by tai chi, yoga, or other forms of expression. This program is appropriate for ages 5 to adult, and can be modified for younger audiences with parent participation. *30 minutes minimum, with the option to extend exercise up to 90 minutesView Full List
Story Walk: An Interactive Way to Experience Story
Also in conjunction with the San Antonio Public Library, Xelena and Adriana shared an early version of the book with their community through a dynamic reading and art installation, designed in the style of a Story Walk. This unique way of sharing stories promotes family literacy, healthy living, and nature appreciation. Please contact the creators to discuss the space and cost considerations involved in replicating this exhibition in your space or city. Indoor or outdoor displays are possible. View Full List
The Rainbow Within: Playing with Poetry
This workshop asks participants to go within and reflect upon their own unique gifts. We will connect with images from nature as we build a poem that may play with metaphor, simile, or personification. Adding illustrations to our creations will enhance the experience and the final piece can be designed on a single page or in “mini book” form. If time allows we will extend the poem into expressive movement with a focus on mindfulness and positive affirmations.
*45 minutes minimum, with the option to extend exercise up to 2 hoursView Full List
Creators
Xelena González
Author
Xelena González has roots in San Antonio, Texas and is an accomplished journalist and dancer who has led various workshops in creative writing, world dance, and interdisciplinary arts. She studied journalism at Northwestern University and library science at Texas Woman’s University, but her true training as a storyteller has come from getting to know other living beings—including plants, animals, and people who happen to speak different languages or see the world in unusual ways. She tells these stories through picture books, essays, song, and dance.
Adriana M Garcia
Illustrator
Adriana M Garcia, is a Texas based visual artist, muralist, and scenic designer. Garcia was most recently commissioned to create a mural for the San Pedro Creek improvement project in San Antonio, Texas. She has been invited to present and speak of her work at national conferences such as National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), and the Roots and Remedies Conference. She has created murals with many community organizations in Texas and has exhibited nationally. Of her work she notes, “I create as a way to document the lives I’ve shared in, it provides a way to honor a person’s existence and make visible the marks they have imprinted upon me and the environment”
Reviews
It's Happening!
