SATA

• East West Literary Agency LLC - https://eastwestliteraryagency.com/book_author/ana-crespo/

  Ana Crespo is at her happiest when she is surrounded by nature. So, Ana spends her summers traveling around the United States, visiting National Parks, and exploring some of the most beautiful places in America. She usually returns from her trips full of ideas for new stories. Her stories tend to focus on nature or Brazilian culture or a mix of both, such as in Saudade (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024). Ana considers herself lucky to have a career that allows her to keep her imagination alive way beyond her childhood years. Originally from Brazil, Ana lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountain region with her husband and kids.

  Ana has written many picture books, including the award-winning The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story and Lia & Luís: Who Has More? She is also an associate literary agent with East West, representing amazing people and incredible talent.

• Ana Crespo website - https://www.anacrespobooks.com/

  Bio
  Quick Facts
  I was born in the 70s, in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. I don't remember reading much as a child. The few memorable books from my childhood were picture books. One of my favorite ones was CHAPEUZINHO AMARELO, by Chico Buarque, illustrated by Ziraldo. It told the story of a little girl who was afraid of everything. I still love the way she loses her fear, with a smart play of words.

  ​

  In 2000, after studying journalism, I moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Education. College hadn't turned me into a reader and neither did graduate school. I became a reader because of my daughter.

  When she was a toddler, one of our favorite activities was going to the library. We spent hours there. We attended baby story times. We read books. We played with the toys. As I read to her, and learned new English words from board books, I developed an appreciation for books. That appreciation turned into love.

  Suddenly, a whole new world opened up. Classics, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, so familiar to an American child, were completely new to me. I devoured picture books. Like a child, I eventually upgraded to chapter books, middle grade, YA, and adult, but PB and MG are still my favorites.

  ​

  As much as I loved the library, there was one thing that always bothered me: I never once found a book by a Brazilian author or featuring Brazilian characters. I relied on family members to send me Brazilian stories, so my daughter could see herself and the culture she came from on the pages of books.

  Many years later, after working as an Academic Advisor and after having another baby, I started looking for something I could do from home. For a while, I worked as a translator, but translators work with someone else’s words and don't have much room for creativity. So, I decided to give writing for children a try...

  1.

  I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My first language is Portuguese.

  2.

  I started learning English when I was 12 years old. (My mom forced me to.)

  3.

  I'd love to live close to a Portuguese restaurant. (Do you know of any in Colorado?)

  4.

  I always have a pencil holding my hair.

  (And I usually forget it's there.)

  5.

  I've traveled by car to all lower 48 US states (and by plane to Hawaii). I'm only missing Alaska.

  6.

  I say my car has tattoos, because it's full of stickers from all the places I've visited.

  7.

  Of all 25 National Parks I've been to, Zion, in Utah, is my very favorite, and the Rocky Mountain National Park is a very close second.

  8.

  My favorite food is...

  OLIVES!

  9.

  My favorite color is...

  YELLOW!

  10.

  My favorite book is...

  ANGELA'S ASHES, by Frank McCourt!

• Cynsations - https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/2021/11/agent-interview-ana-crespo/

  Agent Interview: Ana Crespo, Author, Agent, Booklover
  Home » Agent Interview: Ana Crespo, Author, Agent, Booklover

  By Linda Joy Singleton

  Ana Crespo is an assistant agent for the East West Literary Agency. She is also the author of many amazing picture books. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a library conference when we were both signing books for Albert Whitman. She’s both talented and passionate about creating books for kids. I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed by Cynsations!

  How has your background influenced the books you choose to write and represent as an agent?

  I am a Latina immigrant, born and raised in Brazil. So, of course, Brazil influences the way I see the world and the stories I tell. In some of my books, such as The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story, illustrated by Nana Gonzales (Albert Whitman, 2015) and Lia & Luís: Who Has More? illustrated by Giovana Medeiros (Charlesbridge, 2020), that influence is obvious, as the stories include Portuguese words and are either set in Brazil or feature Brazilian-American kids.

  But even though every story I tell is influenced by my childhood experiences in Brazil, not all stories I tell are about Brazil or its people and culture. Being Brazilian is just one very important part of who I am. I am also a mom, an immigrant, a nature-lover, a road-trip fanatic, the only person I know who can’t stand cherries, and more. All my life experiences influence what I write.

  In terms of what influences the work I represent, it’s a little bit the same. Although I wasn’t a reader when I was a child, what I am attracted to in a story or artwork is influenced by the few books of my childhood, by Brazilian music, by the rhythm of my language, by the visual art I grew up with, and so much more. But it is also influenced by the things I experienced in this country and the books I fell in love with here.

  Being Latina, I would love to connect with and represent more Latinx creators and the diversity within the Latinx community, as well as creators who are members of other underrepresented groups.

  Lia & Luís: Who Has More?, winner of the 2021 Mathical Book Prize (Pre-k), written by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Giovana Medeiros.
  There’s rarely just one moment that leads to success. What turning points led to your becoming a writer and an agent?

  I used to write stories when I was a kid, but I wasn’t a reader then. So, I think becoming a reader was a turning point in my life in general that eventually led me to want to write again, which, in turn, led me to pursue additional roles in the industry. I became a reader on the floor of a public library in Indiana, reading to my toddler daughter. I remember not finding any books with Brazilian characters then, and thinking that it would be fun to see Brazilian-American kids, like my daughter, represented in books. That was probably when the seed was planted, but I didn’t start pursuing writing as a career until ten years later.

  A few years after The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story, illustrated by Nana Gonzalez, came out, I decided to pursue new roles in the publishing industry, eventually apprenticing under Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency, enrolling in the Denver Publishing Institute, and finally becoming an agent.

  Hello, Tree, a book about the connection between a girl and a tree, and the wildfire that threatens it
  Can you describe your style of agenting?

  I am a very editorial agent and place great importance in providing thorough feedback both in writing and via brainstorming sessions, if needed. But I do ask my clients to have critique groups, too. I don’t think the development of a manuscript should be a process involving solely the agent and the client—critique groups are essential. Also, when it comes to communication, I try to be as transparent as possible about everything I do, from when to expect a manuscript to be critiqued to every detail of the submission.

  The opening spread of Hello, Tree, written by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, used with permission.
  What books can we look forward to by you and your clients?

  The beautiful Hello, Tree, written by me, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk (Little Brown, 2021) was launched on Sept. 14. It’s about the connection between a girl and a tree, and the wildfire fire that threatens it.

  There’s also another Lia & Luís book coming out next year—Lia & Luís: Puzzled (illustrated by Giovana Medeiros). In this book, Lia & Luís are sent a secret message in the form of a jigsaw puzzle, and they need to think mathematically to solve it. The Lia & Luís books are illustrated by Giovana Medeiros (Charlesbridge), and they are part of the incredible and extra-important Storytelling Math series, which highlights math, diversity, and the power of storytelling.

  For my clients, there has been one announcement—Stacy S. Jensen’s picture book Before I Lived Here (illustrated by Victo Ngai) sold to Neal Porter (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House). The story is truly gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see what Victo Ngai (who illustrated Wishes) will come up with. Also the announcement of another sale for an illustrator client is coming soon.

  Cynsational Notes

  Ana Crespo (right)
  Ana Crespo is happiest when she is surrounded by nature. In 2000, after studying journalism, she moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Education. But it was reading to her toddler that developed her love for books. She considers herself lucky for having a career that allows her to keep her imagination alive way beyond her childhood years. Originally from Brazil, Ana lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountain region with her husband and kids. She is both a picture book author and an assistant agent for the East West Literary Agency. Learn more about her as an author and more about her as an agent.

• Picture Book Builders - https://picturebookbuilders.com/2021/12/hello-tree-interview-with-ana-crespo-dow-phumiruk-giveaway/

  HELLO, TREE: Interview with Ana Crespo & Dow Phumiruk (+ Giveaway)
  Andrea Wang December 28, 2021
  With the end of 2021 rapidly approaching, I thought it would be the perfect time to share a new book about the end of one thing and the beginning of something new. HELLO, TREE by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk is subtitled “A story about regrowth.”

  When a wildfire comes roaring into the forest, all the animals and humans flee. But all the tree can do is wait. Wait for the fire to lose the battle. Wait for the animals and the girl to come back. And wait for the forest to be reborn./ Inspired by the 2013 Black Forest fire and told from the viewpoint of a tree watching its home destroyed, HELLO, TREE is about the kinship between humans and nature, and the preservation of the environment.

  I’m so pleased to have had a chance to chat with Ana and Dow about their beautiful and hopeful book!

  Andrea: Welcome, Ana and Dow! Ana, you say in your Author’s Note that you were inspired to write this story in 2013 after the Black Forest Fire in Colorado. Could you tell us a little more about the image that inspired you and your writing?

  Ana: Hello, Andrea! Thank you so much for having Dow and me here. We’re so happy you enjoyed Hello, Tree enough to invite us!

  Yes. Hello, Tree was inspired by the 2013 Black Forest Fire, which happened just about 10 miles from my house. My house was never in danger but being here during the fire and witnessing all the suffering and uncertainties was not easy. After the fire, I drove by Black Forest to see with my own eyes the extent of the fire. It was heartbreaking. Many of the trees were completely charred and houses were destroyed—often only chimneys stood. I stopped by one of those houses and noticed that the owners had written on the chimney: “We ‘heart’ Black Forest.” Although I don’t really know what was going through their heads when they wrote it, the writer in me imagined they were suffering for the loss of their home but also for the loss of Black Forest as it was—for all the memories of growing up in those woods, loving those trees, and for all they’d no longer be able to experience. That is what inspired the story.

  Throughout the fire, I kept in mind a visit to the Rocky Mountain National Park, when I attended a Ranger Talk about the benefits of the fire. Of course, they were talking about fires that didn’t destroy properties or killed people. Still, I wasn’t aware at the time that fire was a natural part of a forest’s life cycle, and I was in awe of how nature behaves after such force. So, when writing Hello, Tree, I wanted to make sure that nature’s resilience would be portrayed realistically, which is why the story is told over a period of approximately 30 years. And it is also why there was a lot of research involved in the writing of a story that is only about 200-words long.

  Andrea: What a tragic event to have witnessed. And that’s fascinating about the dual nature of fire — to be both destructive and instrumental to a forest. What was your research process for this book like?

  Ana: While researching, I read a lot—both newspaper/magazine articles and scholarly journals. Once I was feeling somewhat confident about what I had learned, I contacted the National Park Services and interviewed some of their fire specialists. They confirmed my research and shared new details that helped the story become more realistic. Because this is a story told through the point of view of the tree, my focus was on what the tree would be witnessing.

  So, what we see after “the fire lost the battle, and the forest was still” is what usually happens after a forest fire in this region—beetles come in to mate and lay their eggs, woodpeckers come to feast on the beetles. Later, mountain bluebirds will make their nests in the holes the woodpeckers carved. Meanwhile, the soil will absorb nutrients, seeds that need extreme heat to germinate will become seedlings, animals and wind will bring other seeds to the area, the sun will reach the forest floor and allow aspens and wildflowers to grow. The wildflowers will bring in pollinators, more wildflowers will grow, helping nourish the soil even more. More animals will return. As time passes, pine trees will grow taller, eventually blocking the sun from reaching the forest floor, aspen groves will retract, and very slowly, the forest will look more and more as it did before the fire.

  But all of that takes time, and the effects of climate change are not helping—the more wildfires burn, the hotter Earth becomes, causing droughts and other extreme weather that fuel wildfires and make them harder to extinguish. It’s a dangerous cycle.

  Andrea: Dow, how about you? It must have been challenging to make the main character tree stand out from the rest of the forest! Could you tell us about how you approached this issue, and did you have to do much research on ponderosa pines?

  Dow: This was a challenging but fun project! I did have to figure out how to help this special tree stand out from the rest (I’ve never drawn so many trees in my life!). The manuscript mentions that she dressed the tree up, so I imagined fancy fabrics and ribbons on the tree and the girl in her own fancy outfit. And I decided that she left one of those ribbons tied to the tree, and this is the visual device for spotting our main character. The ribbon frays and fades as the tree grows through the story. Of note, this spread (below) appears in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show as we speak!

  I did much research on Ponderosa pines, including a trip to the actual Black Forest that inspired Ana to write the story. I saw charred trunks in clearings, the remnants of the fire. I saw wildflowers and saplings that came afterwards. And of course, I saw many full-grown Ponderosa pines that were spared. They are tall and majestic. I took many photos. I wanted to capture the beauty of the forest in my artwork!

  Andrea: How wonderful that this spread is in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show! Congrats! I love that the story is told from the point of view of the tree. Ana, was this always the case, and what prompted you to choose this unique POV?

  Ana: Surprisingly, the story has always been told through the point of view of the tree. I found the very first version that was submitted to an editor in February of 2014, and the opening sentence was the same, except that the character used to be a boy. It said: “I met the boy when he was a baby, and I was just a sapling.” I have always been fascinated by trees, so as we heard of people and animals fleeing the wildfire, my mind immediately went to the trees, whose survival depend on some natural protections and pure luck. Also, telling the story through the point of view of a tree allowed me to show how the fire behaves and how the forest regrows through a close, detailed view that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

  Andrea: There are a lot of different emotions in the story — happiness, fear, determination, sadness, and hope, to name a few. Dow, I thought your illustrations conveyed them so well, despite the fact that trees don’t have faces! Could you share how you expressed emotions in the illustrations?

  Dow: Ha ha, that is correct: trees don’t have faces! Their most versatile parts of them are the limbs. I would lean the tree trunk one way or another slightly and would have it offer out a limb instead of a hand on occasion. But it is the combination of many things that magically complete the effect: Ana’s text showing us the tree as narrator, the details of setting for mood, and the facial expressions and body language of our human characters interacting with the tree. Some animal characters also set the mood – especially this image of when they run from the fire.

  I didn’t want to make the tree a cartoon character; the story’s tender mood did not lend to blatant personification of a tree. So I kept the tree’s personality by way of images subtle. I think most significantly, the tree as narrator of the story creates the most convincing illusion!

  Andrea: The subtitle of the book is “A Story about Regrowth.” Ana, although you wrote about a particular forest fire, I feel like your story could be an allegory for what we’ve gone through as a country the past few years. Could you share a little more about this theme and what you hope readers will take away from this story?

  Ana: I completely agree! I think this story can be a metaphor for any trauma we experience in life—for those life experiences that, at first look, seem to destroy us but that end up simply changing us, hopefully for the better, even though we would have preferred them to never have happened. So, I certainly see this story as a metaphor for the collective trauma the past few years have caused, for how slow the healing process is, and for how that process depends on a lot of other variables that are often out of our control. Ultimately, though, Hello, Tree is a story of hope, and I hope it will help people see beyond the sadness of the moment and into what the future can be. It helped me.

  Andrea: I hope so, too! And speaking of seeing what the future can be, I love that the book shows diverse people living and working together. Representation has been a big topic in the children’s literature community. Dow, did you consciously decide to depict the main human character of the girl as a person of color, or was it a choice made by you, Ana, and the art director together? Could you talk a little more about your approach to representing marginalized communities in your artwork?

  Dow: If I remember correctly, the editing team suggested a girl of color. I agreed whole-heartedly! Representation is so important to show that the stories of marginalized people are important. too. We shouldn’t be marginalized, especially in our wonderfully diverse country. I feel a great obligation to bring diverse characters into my books and take every opportunity to do so. How lucky I am to work in the industry today, when our awareness of this need for diverse books has been growing and growing. We have a long way to go yet, but I hope we will get there in the years to come.

  Andrea: What are you both working on now, and do you have more books in the pipeline?

  Ana: Yes! The Spanish/English version of Lia & Luís: Who Has More? is coming out in April of 2022, and the sequel to it, Lia & Luís: Puzzled!, is coming out in English at the end of that same year. The books are illustrated by fellow Brazilian Giovana Medeiros and published by Charlesbridge. They are part of the incredible Storytelling Math series that mixes math, diversity, and the power of storytelling.

  Saudade, a love letter to Brazil, written during the pandemic, is publishing in 2024. The book is being illustrated by fellow Brazilian André Ceolin. I am excited to be working with the legendary Neal Porter at Neal Porter Books/Holiday House. The book shows a conversation between a Brazilian-American child and her immigrant mother about the meaning of saudade and all the things they miss from Brazil.

  I am taking this small break to work on some new projects that, I hope, will one day become books too.

  LIA & LUÍS: WHO HAS MORE?
  Out now! Spanish/English version coming April 2022
  Dow: I am currently working on final art for Better Together, by Ben Gundersheimer (Nancy Paulsen Books) and Last Flight, by Kristen Mai Giang (Levine Querido). Her Name was Mary Katharine, by Ella Schwartz (Christy Ottaviano Books), is about the only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence, and it comes out next month!

  I am also working on writing and illustrating a story inspired by a photo of my dad, who was a Royal Thai Air Force fighter pilot. This project is for Viking Children’s Books. And I have a few more projects beyond these. It’s been busy in the best possible way around here!

  HER NAME WAS MARY KATHARINE, coming January 2022
  Andrea: Congratulations on all your upcoming books — that’s so exciting! Thank you both so much for chatting with me, and I hope you and your families have a very happy holiday!

  Ana and Dow: Happy holidays! Thank you for having us, Andrea!

  GIVEAWAY! Ana and Dow are giving away a signed copy of HELLO, TREE to one lucky reader. Please comment below by January 11, 2022 to enter.

  Ana Crespo’s favorite pastime is traveling around the country, visiting some of the most beautiful places around. She has visited all lower forty-eight states and many national parks. In 2013, she was returning home from her native Brazil when she saw the smoke that indicated the beginning of the Black Forest fire in Colorado. Hello, Tree is inspired by what happened after. Ana is also the award-winning author of other six books for children, with two more on the way. Visit Ana at AnaCrespoBooks.com, on Twitter at @AnaCrespoBooks, and on Instagram at @AnaCrespoBooks.

Crespo, Ana HELLO, TREE Little, Brown (Children's None) $18.99 9, 14 ISBN: 978-0-316-42526-1

A steadfast pine tree grows alongside a young girl.

The tree narrates, describing how the pair play together and provide each other comfort and companionship. Life is serene in the forest clearing where both the girl’s family’s house and the tree are situated, until a lightning storm brings fire and chaos. Animals flee, and the girl and her family evacuate, leaving the tree alone. Miraculously, the tree survives, yet destruction is all around. Charred trunks, barren land, and the ruins of the girl’s home have replaced the verdant lushness of the thriving forest. Nature finds a way though, and through the combined efforts of the human and animal communities (the latter never anthropomorphized), the forest regrows, and the cycle of stewardship is passed along to the next generation. Though told from the tree’s perspective, this quietly powerful tale of ecological awareness will prompt reflection about readers’ own roles in coexisting with and protecting nature. The simple, evocative text captures the placid, ever faithful voice of the tree and pairs well with the detailed illustrations. The deep greens of the mature forest project a strong sense of reassurance and vitality that effectively contrasts with the bleak browns, blacks, and grays of the post-fire scenes. The girl and her family have black hair and olive skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Both an appreciation of nature and an ultimately hopeful reminder about our symbiotic relationship with it. (additional facts, author's notes) (Picture book. 4-8)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Crespo, Ana: HELLO, TREE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986334/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5e3c7684. Accessed 17 May 2023.

Crespo, Ana LIA & LUÍS Charlesbridge (Children's None) $16.99 3, 7 ISBN: 978-1-62354-322-8

Piecing together a jigsaw puzzle helps twins Lia and Luís work on spatial skills while solving a mystery.

In their second Storytelling Math outing, the excited young Brazilian Americans (who, Crespo mentions in an author's note, speak in a São Paulo accent) receive a puzzle from their Vovó (grandmother) with a secret message and immediately notice that some pieces have one or two straight sides. "It's a clue!" Sorting ensues, as well as matching contours and turning pieces until each one fits. Meanwhile, Mamãe is urging them to hurry ("Rápido!") because they have to leave soon. Where to? The finished puzzle turns out to be a picture of Vovó saying "Até Já!" ("See you soon!") which solves the mystery just in time for a scramble to the airport and a joyful greeting: "Que saudade!" "We missed you too, Vovó!" It's a brief but age-appropriate introduction to spatial skills that will appeal to kids. The olive-skinned twins are visibly lighter than their Mamãe and Vovó--realistic variations in hue--in the simple, sunny art. The final pieces are laid down with a list of Portuguese expressions used in the narrative and an educator's explanation of the math related skills exercised here that features suggestions for enhancement activities. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Intellectual lessons and a glimpse at Brazilian American culture fit seamlessly together. (Math picture book. 3-6)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Crespo, Ana: LIA & LUIS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729072538/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=693ae47e. Accessed 17 May 2023.