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Image retrieved from: http://www.yuyimorales.com/me.htm

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Yuyi Morales was born in 1968 in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.  She immigrated to the United States in 1994 when she married her husband Tim. Together, they have one son named Kelly.

When she was enrolled into college at the University of Xalapa, she earned a Bachelor of Arts and also completed graduate work in creative writing.  She initially wanted to pursue a degree in physical education but changed her mind to creative writing.  After graduation, she worked as a swim coach for two years.  It was during this time when she met her husband.

While visiting her husband’s family, she decided to stay in San Francisco.  She did not have a job, spoke no English, and did not have any friends. One day her mother-in-law took her and her son to the library, which is where Yuji became inspired by her love of children’s literature.  She learned to read English along with her son by reading picture books with simple texts and beautiful illustrations.

To learn more about Yuji’s background, watch this brief question and answer video segment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmmh_h2c9U

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Johnston, Tony. (2009). My Abuelita. Ilus. by Yuyi Morales. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Krull, Katheleen. (2003). Harvesting Hope: The story of Cesar Chavez. Illus. by Yuyi Morales. San Diego, CA: Harcourt.

Morales, Yuyi. (2008). Just in Case. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Yuyi. (2014). Viva Frida. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Yuyi. (2013). Niño Wrestles the World. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Yuyi. (2007). Little Night. New Milford, CT: Roaring Brook Press.

Soetoro-Ng, Maya. (2011). Ladder to the moon. Illus. by Yuyi Morales.  Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

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*Family

*Hope

*Historical People

*Hispanic

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Writing:

*English and Spanish text interwoven with one another

*Student/kid friendly

*Relatable text

*When she moved here, she missed her family, the traditions, friends, parties, foods etc. So she put all of them into her books

Illustrations:

*Colorful, bold colors used

*Use acrylic paintings with a variety of emotions, especially fear and sorrow

*Characters are made of clay and then put into a scene which is then photographed
Overall:
*Surrounds herself with things she loves, the stories that bring her closer to her home land, colors that make her vibrant, the tales and customs she wants her son to know.

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Yuyi Morales’s creative process is unique because of her ability to incorporate people she knows into her illustrations. By looking closely at her illustrations, you can find images of her son, her husband, her dog, and herself in a few of her books.

Yuyi uses two artistic areas in her creative process.

1. CONCEPT: Yuyi draws her characters in a way that make their emotions come through the page.  The illustrations show the emotions of the characters behavior and how they feel.

2. TECHNICAL: She begins with drawing simple circles and lines to create his characters.  She draws several sketches, with lots of erasing and revisions before she creates her final masterpiece.

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My Abuelita (2009) written by Tony Johnston is illustrated by Yuyi Morales. She uses her vivacious colors and still life characters of clay. As you turn each page, the reader can visualize the scenes that she created.

The author, Tony Johnston, tells a story of a little boy who lives with his grandmother or Abuelita. The little boy is enamored by his grandmother and loves her so. The little boy uses similes to describe his grandmother that really intrigues the readers senses. "She is as old as the hills. Maybe older. Her hair is the color of salt. Her skin is as crinkled as dried chile." This fun, color filled book is relatable to children. The character of the young boy tells the reader about the morning routine that his grandmother goes through every morning until she leaves for work in which she is a performer who tells a story on stage.

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Yuyi Morales has received numerous awards for her books and illustrations.  She has received the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award for Just in Case, in the years 2004, 2008, and 2009.  She also received two other awards in 2004, The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, for Harvesting Hope, and The Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book award for Just a Minute, for writing and illustrations.  Yuyi also received another Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book award for Los Gatos in 2008.

Her books have also received awards such as the Parent's Choice Award, Latino Book Award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Americas Award honorable mention, Latino Literary Award for best children's book, Notable Books for a Global Society (2004- Just a Minute), and National Council for Trade books in Social Studies.

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A Mini-Interview with Yuyi Morales. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2014, from http://juanamartinezneal.com/blog/2013/11/12/a-mini-interview-with-yuyi-morales

Johnston, Tony. (2009). My Abuelita. Illus. by Yuyi Morales. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publishing Company.

Krull, K., & Morales, Y. (2003). Harvesting Hope: The story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego: Harcourt.

Morales, Yuyi. (2008). Just In Case. Illus. by Yuyi Morales. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Yuyi. (2014). Viva Frida. Illus. by Yuyi Morales. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Y. (2013).Niño Wrestles the World. New York: Roaring Brook Press.Morales, Y. (2007). Little Night. New Milford, Conn.: Roaring Brook Press.

Morales, Y. (2007). Little Night. New Milford, Conn.: Roaring Brook Press

Ng, M., & Morales, Y. (2011). Ladder to the moon. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Yuyi Morales Biography - Personal, Addresses, Career, Honors Awards, Writings, Work in Progress, Sidelights. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2014, from http://biography.jrank.org/pages/950/Morales-Yuyi.html

http://www.yuyimorales.com/2.htm (Website)