Juana Martinez-Neal

Juana Martinez-Neal is a Peruvian American children's book author and illustrator. Her debut book as an author and illustrator, Alma and How She Got Her Name, was well reviewed and won a 2019 Caldecott Honor.

Juana Martinez-Neal
Juana Martinez-Neal in 2016
Born	Lima, Peru
Occupation	Children's author, illustrator
Nationality	American, Peruvian
Genre	Children's fantasy
Relatives	Victor Martínez Gómez (father), Victor Martinez Malaga (grandfather)
Website
juanamartinezneal.com

Biography

Juana Martinez-Neal grew up in Lima, Peru.^[1] Growing up she hoped to be a painter, like her father and grandfather, as the profession of illustrator was not common in Peru.^[2][3] She moved to the United States in her mid-20s.^[1] After having children of her own she decided to become an author and illustrator of children's books.^[2] She now lives in Connecticut, with her husband and three children.^[4]

Bibliography

As Writer and Illustrator

• Alma and How She Got Her Name, Candlewick Press, 2018 ISBN 978-0-7636-9355-8
• Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre, Candlewick Press, 2018 ISBN 978-0-7636-9358-9
• Zonia's Rainforest, Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN 978-1-5362-0845-0 ^[5]
• La selva de Zonia, Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN 978-1-5362-1336-2 ^[6]

As Illustrator

• La Madre Goose, written by Susan Middleton Elya, Putnam, 2016 ISBN 978-0-399-25157-3
• La Princesa and the Pea, written by Susan Middleton Elya, Putnam, 2017 ISBN 978-0-399-25156-6
• Babymoon, written by Hayley Barrett, Candlewick Press, 2019 ISBN 978-0-763-68852-3
• Fry Bread, written by Kevin Noble Maillard, Roaring Brook Press, 2019 ISBN 978-1-626-72746-5
• Swashby and the Sea, written by Beth Ferry, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020 ISBN 978-0-544-70737-5
• Tomatoes for Neela, written by Padma Lakshmi, Viking Children's Books, 2021 ISBN 978-0-593-20270-8
• A Perfect Fit, written by Mara Rockliff, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2022 ISBN 978-0-358-12543-3
• I Don't Care, written by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal, Neal Porter Books-Holiday House, 2022 (Forthcoming) ISBN 978-0-8234-4345-1^[7]

Awards and honors

• 2018 Pura Belpré Illustrator Winner – La Princesa and the Pea^[8]
• 2019 Caldecott Honor – Alma and How She Got Her Name^[9]
• 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award Writer Honor – Alma and How She Got Her Name”^[10]
• 2020 Sibert Medal – Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story^[11]