René ColatoLaínez

Known as “the teacher full of stories,” René Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran author of more than a dozen picture books including the bilingual edition of My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders/Mis zapatos y yo: Cruzado tres fronteras (Arte Publico Press), which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. He is also the author of ¡Vámonos! Let’s Go! (illus by Joe Cepeda, Holiday House), Señor Pancho Tenia un Rancho (illus by Elwood Smith, Holiday House), and Mama the Alien/ Mamá la extraterrestre (illus by Laura Lacamara, Lee & Low Books). His new MY FRIEND/MI AMIGO bilingual picture book series (Holiday House), illustrated by Nomar Perez, begins with Let’s Be Friends/Seamos Amigos and Let’s Play Soccer/Jugamos al Fútbol.

René is the recipient of the Premios Actitud Award honoring top talent in the arts and sciences of El Salvador. His picture books have been awarded the International Latino Book Award, Américas Award Commended Title, International Reading Association Teacher’s Choice Award, and Tejas Star Book Award, among many others. René is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults and a faculty member of Sandra Cisneros Macondo Writers Group. He is a bilingual elementary teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School, one of Los Angeles Unified School District’s most innovative schools. He has appeared on Univision and Telemundo, and is a regular participant at conferences and book festivals in the United States and Latin America.

Visit him on the web http://www.renecolatolainez.com, or follow him on twitter @renecolato

Read a feature interview with Rene in Kirkus Reviews, here.

“A marvelous story [The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Pérez] merging cultures seamlessly and with great humor. Adults will enjoy this read-aloud just as much as kids.” —  Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street