Book Nook: Interview with Lucky Diaz

Our plucky young narrator is on a mission: find the Paletero Man and buy his favorite icy treat. As he winds through LA’s Eighth Street– the auhtor’s neighborhood and inspiration for the book– readers are introduced to the narrator’s many friends along the way who help him track down the Paletero Man. Just when he thinks the chase is over, he discovers he’s lost all his dinero along the way! But not to worry, that’s what neighbors are for. 

 Inspired by the popular song, Palatero Man is an OwnVoices picture book that celebrates community, culture, and even includes some Spanish words and phrases. Learn more about the inspiration for the book and song in the author’s letter. 

1.       Where did the idea come from to turn Paletero Man into a book? What has been your favorite part of the process?

What a great question! The idea for the book came from my family’s daily walks in our Los Angeles (Korea Town) neighborhood. As I mention in my author’s note, 8^th street is the epicenter of immigrant street food vending in Los Angeles. It’s also where my own family arrived from Mexico in the seventies. I wanted to write a story that honored our community and its heroes.

 

2.       The book is based on your own vibrant and colorful L.A. neighborhood. Are the characters based on people you know too?

Actually yes!! Every character in the book is based on an actually person. Additionally, the amazing illustrator Micah Player included many of the neighborhood’s familiar faces. When I read and see the book, it’s a gorgeous capsule of our LA life.

 

3.       How can parents and caregivers find quality books for kids? Music?

Now, more than ever there’s an abundance amazing children’s books and music. There’s a rich community or parents, music fans and librarians on social networks highlighting great work. I follow many. It’s always fun to see new work come from every corner of the globe. Technology has really made it easier to find great stuff.

 

4.       Do you have any advice for increasing literacy and reading skills in kids?

I can’t really offer much advice, but what I can say is that reading anything to your child helps. I find even reading labels off food jars or cereal boxes in a grocery store helps our own daughter. These experiences build a visual dialogue and familiarity with words and the world around us. I can see our daughter correlating the two when we then sit down and read books together.

 

5.       What do you hope readers will take away from Paletero Man?

I hope that readers see the heroism in the characters of my book. Hopefully they see the unsung heroes in their own communities. At the core of my story is kindness. The kindness contributed from dreamers and immigrants in our local communities. We need each other to thrive. Our individual dreams are more alike than we think. I hope my book inspires sharing those ideas with each other over cold Paletas on a hot day.