Juana Martinez-Neal

Juana Martinez-Neal is the author-illustrator of Alma and How She Got Her Name (Candlewick) which was named a Caldecott Honor, Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor, Kid’s Indie Next List “Top 10” Book, and a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, Booklist, New York Public Library, and many more. Juana’s second author-illustrator book, Zonia’s Rain Forest was named an ALA Top 10 Sustainability-Themed Children’s Book. Juana paints with acrylics, colored pencils and graphite on handmade textured paper to create gorgeous textures and depth giving each of her books a distinct style. 

Juana also illustrates picture books including New York Times bestseller Tomatoes for Neela written by Padma Lakshmi (Penguin/Viking), I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, co-illustrated with Molly Idle (Holiday House), A Perfect Fit by Mara Rockliff (Clarion), and Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (Roaring Brook Press), awarded the Robert F. Sibert Medal, American Indian Youth Literature Honor Book, and Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, NPR, and Shelf Awareness. She was awarded the Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for La Princesa and the Pea. New in 2025: Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con La Papa by Sara Fajardo (Roaring Brook Press) in spring and A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the World by Martha Brockenbrough (Knopf) coming in May.

Juana was born in Lima, the capital of Peru, and now lives with her family in Connecticut. Visit her on the web http://juanamartinezneal.com/, or follow her @juanamartinez

• Caldecott Honor, Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor and Best Book of the Year School Library Journal, Booklist and Kids Indie Next “Top 10” for Alma and How She Got Her Name
• Robert F. Sibert Medal and Best Book of the Year Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, NPR, Shelf Awareness for Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
• Pura Belpré Award for Illustration for La Princesa and the Pea
• New York Times bestseller for Tomatoes for Neela
• IBBY Honor List by the International Board on Books for Young People
• SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Grand Prize Winner