“I stress the importance of keeping one's heritage and language. I explain how my Latino heritage has been a source of inspiration for my books.” — Lulu Delacre

Brief Bio:

Lulu Delacre was born to Argentinean parents and grew up in Puerto Rico. Her award-winning books for children include Golden Tales: Myths, Legends and Folktales from Latin America; Arroz Con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America; Salsa Stories, an IRA Outstanding International Book and the Pura Belpre Award Honor Book, and The Bossy Gallito, written by Lucia M. Gonzalez. Visit her online at www.luludelacre.com.

Although most of the programs are in English with some Spanish, upon request, Lulu can present any program in Spanish only.

Programs for Elementary Schools

Program: From Arroz to Shake it!

4 presentations maximum per day

Recommended for Pre K – 1

45 min. Lulu teaches gentle games from Arrorró mi niño, tells the story behind the creation of Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America, and dances game-songs from Arroz con Leche and Shake it, Morena! with selected students.

Program: Salsa Stories

4 presentations maximum per day

Recommended for Grades 3 – 5

45 min. We explore how special foods spark fond family memories, and how these memories can be transformed into stories. A reading of a story, an explanation of the creative process behind the book and the powerful role of family anecdotes. A DVD slide show explains the printing process used for the illustrations

Celebrate with Latino Songs, Stories, and Foods!

4 presentations maximum per day

Recommended for all grades and all ages

30 to 45 min. This presentation focuses on the books Arrorró mi niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games, Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America and Salsa Stories. I explain why I felt the need to create Arroz con Leche. I share some of the gentle games of Arrorró. I read a story from Salsa Stories and explain how I created the art. We end dancing the arroz con leche game song. With the host's help, a sampling of Salsa Stories' recipes may be offered.

 

Programs at the Middle and High School Level

From Event to Bound Book: The Creation of a Memoir

4 presentations maximum per day

Suggested Audience: Grades 7 – 12

45 min. Lulu Delacre explains the steps in the making of the memoir genre. She describes the interview process, the challenges of multiple voices and points of view, the use of voice to develop character, and the search for clarity in placing memories in the past or distant past. She talks about the importance of revising and editing and the thought process in the final selection of images for her books. This is a program that brings to the foreground thought-provoking themes for many teens. A question and answer period is included.

Writing to Heal: A Workshop

4 presentations maximum per day

Suggested Audience: Grades 7 – 12

45 min. Delacre discusses her book, Alicia Afterimage which shows the impact the sudden death of a teen has on the family and school community. She examines the unique way teens grieve and what it feels like to be responsible for a friend’s death. Delacre encourages students familiar with loss to write about their own experiences and create their own collections of “afterimages.” A workshop designed for those interested in memoir writing and in the use of literature to heal. Program length varies according to school goals and can be adapted to middle or high school level.

 

Virtual Visits

30-44 min.
Lulu will consider a select number of virtual visits via iPad’s Facetime app.

 

Conferences & Festivals

Lulu Delacre conducts teacher workshops and gives speeches related to her work as an author and illustrator.  She has been a speaker at the Frostburg University Children's Literature Institute, MD; the Rabbit Hill Festival, CT; the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mazza Summer Institute; the Shenandoah University Children's Book Festival, VA: Fordham University, NY; the University of Wisconsin; Tulsa University, OK; Michigan Reading Association; Ohio State University; Diamond State Reading Association; the University of Northern Colorado; the University of Puerto Rico; the Universidad Católica de Ponce, PR; Kids are Customers Too Conference, MD; SCBWI Regional Conference; ADEC Conference, among others.

 

A/V Tech Needs

The equipment required varies according to the program.

 

Honorarium

$1300 per day plus expenses for school visits

$1500 per day conference to adults

$50 per 30 to 45-minute virtual visit/video conference (via Facetime)

 

*If an invoice or other paperwork is needed please contact the author in advance so check can be prepared.

 

Ordering Books

Schools and libraries may order books at a discounted rate by visiting the Scholastic Teacher Store or by calling 1-800-SCHOLASTIC.

 

Booklist

ISBN	TITLE	DATE	PRICE	AUTHOR	ILLUSTRATOR
9780439067577	BOSSY GALLITO (BILINGUAL TR PB)	1999	5.99	Lucia M. Gonzalez	Lulu Delacre
9780590418867	ARROZ CON LECHE (PB)	1992	5.99	Lulu Delacre
9780545430982	SALSA STORIES	2012	6.99	Lulu Delacre