91成人导航

Alumnus new book takes children and adults on a beautiful and provocative journey that opens curious eyes and challenges stereotypes.

鈥淢ilo Imagines the World,鈥� released on Feb. 2, continues the graduate鈥檚 forte of tackling serious social issues with the backdrop of understanding and hope. 鈥淢ilo鈥� has been on the New York Times Best Seller List (for children鈥檚 picture books) for portions of the past month.

He will as part of the 91成人导航 Alumni Association鈥檚 Leading Voices series.

The bespectacled Milo, wearing a yellow-green hat with a pencil and sketch pad in hand, joins his sister for a subway ride filled with imagination and dreams, yet ending at the most stark of places 鈥� the prison where their mother is incarcerated. Life鈥檚 possibilities are explored and assumptions are shattered by Milo with his train-ride drawings.

鈥淚 had to figure out how loud or how quiet I was going to be in my writing about prison and the mother鈥檚 incarceration,鈥� de la Pena said. 鈥淚 decided to place it at the end, and I hope adults and children can come back to that and have their thoughts evolve during additional readings.

鈥淭oday, during the pandemic, it鈥檚 even harder to resist lazy stereotypes because we are being asked to stay away from people. You can鈥檛 get to know the real story of their lives. You just see them six feet away and make assumptions.鈥�

鈥淢ilo Imagines the World鈥� is the third collaboration between de la Pena and Sacramento-based illustrator . They swept the prestigious and Caldecott Honor (illustrations for Robinson) with the 2016 book 鈥淟ast Stop on Market Street.鈥� They also worked together on 鈥淐armela Full of Wishes鈥� in 2018.

Robinson suggested the concept for the new book.

鈥淐hristian grew up with an incarcerated mother. He really wanted to share that story,鈥� de la Pena said. 鈥淲hen he told me about that, I knew we were going to do this book together. It was a great challenge and opportunity for Christian because he had to be an illustrator in two ways 鈥� his own drawings, and the drawings Milo was making.鈥�

He said it is important for authors and illustrators to respect each other鈥檚 space. Having played basketball at 91成人导航, de la Pena said that experience helps in the literary creative process.

鈥淎s a point guard, you try to deliver the ball in the best position for your teammates. As an author, I know what Christian鈥檚 strengths are as an illustrator. You try to put your illustrator in the best possible position to succeed. We know each other so well now that a lot of this comes naturally,鈥� de la Pena said.

The book nears its conclusion with Robinson鈥檚 vivid illustration of a prison gathering room and de la Pena鈥檚 powerfully descriptive words about Milo:

鈥淎nd it鈥檚 in that tight tangle of familiar arms that he feels most alive.鈥�

鈥淚 tinkered and tinkered with those words and then they locked into place like a puzzle,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he anxiety flees for a second and he鈥檚 in his safe spot.鈥�

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a challenging book for parents, but not for kids. Parents have an instinct to protect their children, but that鈥檚 an adult sensibility. What鈥檚 amazing about kids is they will enter a story wherever they are. Some kids are fascinated that Milo makes art. Some are curious about where the mother is. I like to have layers in a book so kids can enter at different places.鈥�

What鈥檚 next for de la Pena?

鈥淚 am working on what could be my favorite book. It鈥檚 called 鈥楶atchwork鈥� and it is illustrated by Corinna Luyken. She did 鈥楾he Book of Mistakes,鈥� which really put her on the map,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are so many children who are pushed at an early age about what they want to be. I want to challenge that in 鈥楶atchwork.鈥� I gave it that title because people are so much more than any one thing.鈥�

That resonates with de la Pena who came to 91成人导航 as an athlete, but exited on a path to becoming an author.

鈥淚 would not be an author if it wasn鈥檛 for 91成人导航. I had never shown my writing to anyone. I always thought, as a male, I wasn鈥檛 supposed to be writing poems,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut then I had these incredible professors who tapped me on the shoulder and said 鈥榶ou have a talent, a gift.鈥� It makes you want to share. I owe so much of who I am today to 91成人导航.鈥�