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MEET ALMA FLOR ADA
by Bonnie O'Brian

What did you most like to do when you were a child?

As a child I loved to read, to spend time in nature, both among the trees and in the ocean, to swim and to explore.

Alma Flor Ada

What books influenced you most when you were growing up?

So many… I read all the books, not only the best well-known, of Louise May Alcott and of Johanna Spyri. Louise May Alcott’s books made me think of feelings and personal interaction, those of J. Spyri of the wonders of the world of nature around me, as well as love among people. Jules Verne invited me to imagine the unimaginable, Emilio Salgari invited me to think of brave adventures, while Charles Dickens made me see, even more clearly, the poverty, the great differences, and the injustices that existed in my country. I was particularly moved by Edmundo D’Amicis book, CORAZÓN {Heart: A Boy’s Diary] which included some very poignant stories and reflections on every day life in Italy, by the books of two Argentinian writers Constancio C. Vigil and Germán Berdiales. I loved the poetry of José Martí, the stories and essays in the wonderful LA EDAD DE ORO. Besides books I was greatly influenced by my grandmother’s stories: folktales, legends from the Greek tradition and factual stories about the Cuban struggle to gain its independence from Spain.

What was your first job when you graduated from college?

I was already a teacher before finishing my doctoral studies. And I am proud to have been an educator ever since!

When and where was your first book published?

My first books were published in Lima, Peru, before I finished my graduate studies. They were text books with the lessons that I had created for my High School students.

What are the topics are some of your books?

I write books in many genres, and I really like them all. It depends on the moment.Some of my books are books of poetry. In Spanish I love to play with the language, its sounds and its multiple meanings. In my picture books there are frequently many animals, probably because I grew up in a farm and loved the nature that surrounded me. The topics that keep reappearing, whether the characters be animals, people, or even geometric shapes are the joy of family, the surprises of discovering friendship among those who apparently are different from us (THE MALACHITE PALACE, FRIEND FROG, FRIENDS) our capacity to change our environment and thus our life for the better (Jordi’s Star) and the power in not-giving up (THE LIZARD AND THE SUN, THE KITE). My respect for farm-workers led me to write Gathering the Sun.

Do you focus on fiction or nonfiction? Which do you prefer? Do you find one easier than the other?

I write both fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry and plays. The desire that all children learn more about the richness of the Latino culture, in order that they can appreciate it more, has led me to write many non-fiction books.I enjoy all forms of writing, but I probably have more fun writing fiction.

Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas are all around us. I can get inspired for a story by seeing something, or by hearing some words… but at the end it always seem that the stories reflect something that is deep in me.

What gave you the idea for “EXTRA! EXTRA! NEWS FROM HIDDEN FOREST?”

I enjoyed very much seeing how much children liked my books DEAR PETER RABBIT, YOURS TRULY, GOLDILOCKS AND WITH LOVELITTLE RED HEN, and I liked to see that teachers were using them to show their students how to write letters in a fun way. The great illustrations that Leslie Tryon has made for these books made the Hidden Forest world come alive… and that led me to believe they needed a newspaper.

Have any of your books earned special recognition?

Yes. I have been very fortunate that many of my books have received awards/For example, THE GOLD COIN won the Christopher Award Medal, THE LIZARD AND THE SUN received the gold medal from Parenting Magazines, GATHERING THE SUN won the Once Upon a World Award, HALF-CHICKEN/MEDIOPOLLITO was given an Aesop Accolade. TALES OUR ABUELITAS TOLD received The Literary Guild Medal, DEARPETER RABBIT is a Parent’s Honor book. Four of my books: HALF-CHICKEN/MEDIOPOLLITO, GATHERING THE SUN, THREE GOLDEN ORANGES, and DEAR PETER RABBIT have been in the California Collections. Many of my books have received recognition by having been included in many lists, including state lists.

How did your life change when you had children?

I feel that not only my life, but myself changed completely. Life was not any more about me, but first and foremost about them. I became more cautious, because I wanted to make sure nothing happened to me, so I could be there for them. I worked much harder, because I wanted to make sure they would not lack anything. And they became a constant presence in my mind and heart. And yes, it made it a lot easier to write, because they have inspired many of my stories and added so much to my life that I have both greater interest in writing and their help and support.

Have any of your fiction stories been about real people or events?

I love to explain that I am Field Mouse in my story FRIEND FROG.They want to know where ideas come from, and I like to tell them that they are both all around us, and within us.

Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to share - hobbies, where you were born, special talents other than writing/illustrating,

Recently I have had two books published, ALMA FLOR ADA AND YOU, volumes I and II [Libraries Unlimited] where I have shared everything you can possibly want to know about my life as an author of children’s literature.