About
Photo Credit: Lluvia Higuera
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Aida Salazar is an award-winning author, translator, and arts activist whose writings for adults and children explore issues of identity and social justice. She is the author of the critically acclaimed middle grade verse novels, THE MOON WITHIN (International Latino Book Award Gold Medal); LAND OF THE CRANES (Américas Award, California Library Association Beatty Award, Northern CA Book Award, NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, Jane Addams Peace Honor, International Latino Book Award Honor); as well as A SEED IN THE SUN (Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, ALA RISE Feminist Book Project Top 10 Book, NCTE Notable Poetry/ Verse Novel Honor, Jane Addams Peace Award Finalist); ULTRAVIOLET (Pura Belpre Honor, NSK Nuestdat Finalist, JLG Award, Golden Poppy Finalist, Earphones Award, NCTE Notable Verse Novel). Her other works include the bio picture book JOVITA WORE PANTS: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter (Caldecott Honor, Malka Penn Award, International Latino Book Awards- Rising Star and Gold Medal); the picture book anthology, IN THE SPIRIT OF A DREAM: 13 Stories of Immigrants of Color (Eureka Silver Medal); the board book series MY LIVING WORLD which include the books: WHEN MOON BLOOMS, WHEN WATER FLOWS, and WHEN SUN RISES; and the anthology CALLING THE MOON: Period Stories by BIPOC Authors. Her story, By the Light of the Moon, was adapted into a ballet production by the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history. She lives with her family of artists in Oakland, CA.
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Full Bio
Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose writings explore issues of identity and social justice. She was born in Zacatecas, Mexico with Indigenous Caxcan lineage and grew up the middle child in a family of seven children in Southeast Los Angeles. This is where she spent many days sitting in little puddles of water on cement believing she was in the ocean.
Her critically acclaimed and award-winning debut middle grade novel in verse, THE MOON WITHIN (Scholastic), has been hailed as "Important" by the New York Times; as "a worthy successor to Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" by Kirkus Reviews; as "revolutionary and culturally ecstatic" by Juan Felipe Herrera (US Poet Laureate); won an International Latino Book Award for Middle Grade Fiction, a Golden Poppy Award, a Nerdy Book Award, an Americas Award Honor, a NCTE Notable Poetry and Verse Novel Award, and was named a Charlotte Huck Recommended Book by NCTE; it received four starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly and BookPage; was named a best book of 2019 by NPR's Book Concierge, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, The Center for Multicultural Children's Literature, Penn State Graduate School of Education and a best book of the decade by Ellen Hagan for School Library Journal. It was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, KPFA's "Hard Knock Radio," on "Making Contact" and the "Feeling My Flow" podcast. The Moon Within was printed in paperback as part of Scholastic's exclusive Gold line of award-winning books and has been translated into Spanish by Alberto Jiménez Rioja.
Aida is also the author of the multiple award-winning novel in verse, THE LAND OF THE CRANES (Scholastic) - a story about a little girl and her pregnant mother who are caged in an immigration detention facility. CRANES has won an Américas Award; California Librarian's Association John and Patricia Beatty Award; Northern California Book Award; NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor; the Jane Addams Peace Award Honor; the International Latino Book Award Honor; was selected as 2021-2022 Project LIT Book Club Pick; and chosen as a Rise Feminist Book by the American Library Association. LAND OF THE CRANES has also gained starred reviews from Kirkus who called it, "powerful... lyrical... soaring..." from Publisher's Weekly who called it "Lyrical, passionate, and all-too timely" and a star from School Library Journal who called it "beautifully told, heart-wrenching and resonant." It was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Book Page, The Center for Multicultural Children's Books; and was named one of the top ten books of the year by The New York Public Library. It was a BookCon 2020 Middle Grade Buzz Book and was featured on the Cultural Frontline on the BBC's World Service's program Cultural Impact. Land of the Cranes will be printed in paperback as part of Scholastic's exclusive Gold line of award-winning books and has been translated into Spanish by Abel Berriz.
Her novel, A SEED IN THE SUN, is a historical fiction verse novel published by Dial Books (Penguin) in October 2022. It is about a farmworking girl who longs to be a teatrista and is inspired by Dolores Huerta during the pivotal moments of the 1965 UFW grape boycott. A SEED IN THE SUN won The Tomás Rivera Children's Book Award for older readers, received a NCTE Notable Verse Novel award, was selected by the American Library Association's RISE: Feminist Book Project as a top 10 book of the year, and was a finalist for the Jane Addams Peace Award. The book also received four starred reviews from Booklist, BookPage, School Library Journal and The Horn Book. Booklist said it "turned the past into a living, breathing thing." BookPage said it made "complex history tangible." School Library Journal said it was "poignantly told." The Horn Book called it "a powerful coming-of-age-story filled with evocative language." It was voted a Best Book of 2022 by BookPage, The Center for Multicultural Literature, and chosen as a book that inspires and gives value to girls by Girls Read the World for NBC.
Aida's most recent verse novel, ULTRAVIOLET, published by Scholastic 2024, about a 13-year-old boy who falls in love for the first time and sees everything in ultraviolet colors, is a loose companion to her first novel, THE MOON WITHIN. ULTRAVIOLET received an ALA Pura Belpre Honor, was a Golden Poppy finalist award, Junior Library Guild Award, a Notable Verse Novel award from NCTE, and won an Earphones Award from Audiophile Magazine for the audiobook read by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. Salazar was named a finalist for the NSK Nuestdat Children's and Young adult Literature Award for ULTRAVIOLET. The book also received a glowing review from the New York Times who called it "savagely funny and deeply human". It was named a NPR Book of the Day and featured on an interview with Deepa Fernandes of Here and Now Radio. It was featured in Kirkus Reviews alongside Salazar with the article titled, "Is This Kidlit Author Our New Judy Blume?" written by Mahnaz Dar. It has received four starred reviews including from Kirkus who said it is "a story that sings to the soul", Publisher's Weekly called it "humorous... introspective... compassionate", School Library Journal noted it as "Yet another heartfelt and accessible tale from one of the best in modern children's literature," and BookPage who called it a "fully intersectional look at what it means to embody masculinity without toxcicity."
Her picture book based on the life of her distant great aunt, Jovita Valdovinos, JOVITA WORE PANTS: THE STORY OF A MEXICAN FREEDOM FIGHTER illustrated by Molly Mendoza released in 2023 from Scholastic. It won a 2024 Caldecott Honor, the Malka Penn Human Rights in Children's Literature Award, an International Latino Book Award Gold Medal, an International Latino Book Rising Star Award, a Eureka Award Silver Medal, a TLA -Notable Book for a Global Society Award, a Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People Award. It was named a Jr. Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and received three starred reviews and three positive reviews. Kirkus said it is "Gracefully told, with deft use of figurative language, the story is mesmerizing, bringing to life this chapter in history by focusing on one incredibly relatable, resolute individual. The illustrations are replete with vivid hues and bold brushstrokes that convey energy and movement." It was added to the following lists: the Texas Blue Bonnet, ALSC Notable Children's Book List and ALSC Dia Booklist in English and Spanish, Michigan Association of School Libraries List, and Children's Literacy Initiative Women's History month Book Selection. It was translated into Spanish by Aida herself.
In 2024, Aida launched into new territory with the board book series entitled MY LIVING WORLD published by Rise Books (an imprint of Penguin) and intended for ages 0-5. The series of poetic board books are derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom and are about establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with and respect for nature. The first in the series, entitled WHEN MOON BLOOMS was published in February, 2024 and received a starred review from School Library Journal. The second book, WHEN WATER FLOWS, released on October 29, 2024. The third board book, WHEN SUN RISES, will complete the series and will be released in Summer of 2025.
Aida co-edited with Yamile Saied Méndez, CALLING THE MOON: Period Stories by BIPOC Authors (Candlewick Press) which released on March 28, 2023. The collection brings together some of the strongest voices working in middle grade literature including Ibi Zoboi, Padma Venkatraman, Christina Soontorvat, Emma Otheguy, Elise McMullen-Ciotti, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Erin Entrada Kelly, Mason J., Leah Henderson, Nikki Grimes, Saadia Faruqi, Susan Muaddi Darraj, Veeda Bybee, Hilda Eunice Burgos. The collection has received four starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly and Booklist. Kirkus called it "a powerful, vibrant, celebration of an important milestone." SLJ said it is "a much needed addition to library collections." Publisher's Weekly said it is "A love letter to all who menstruate, one that is both welcoming and inclusive." Booklist called it, "essential compelling and unique."
She wrote the poems for an anthology created by Alina Chau, entitled IN THE SPIRIT OF A DREAM: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color (Scholastic, Fall 2021) which features thirteen different immigrants illustrated by thirteen different illustrators (all of whom are either immigrant or children of immigrants). The picture book received a Eureka Honor Book Award from the California Reading Association and a Silver Medal Award from the International Latino Book Awards.
Aida has translated four picture books from English into Spanish: LA PANZA DE MAMA by Isabel Quintero and illustrated by Iliana Galvez, AL PIE DE LA MONTAÑA by Traci Sorell, PAZ (PEACE) by Baptiste and Miranda Paul illustrated by Esteli Meza; and OJALA SUPIERAS (I WISH YOU KNEW) by Jackie Azua Kramer illustrated by Magdalena Mora. She also translated into English the novel, NEVERFORGOTTEN (NUNCASEOLVIDA), by Alejandra Algorta, illustrated by Ivan Rickennman - voted a top 10 book of the year by the New York Times and received a Silver Medal Honor in Translation from the International Latino Book Awards.
She has contributed to the middle grade anthology, THIS IS OUR RAINBOW, and the young adult anthologies, LIVING BEYOND BORDERS and ALLIES. Her story, By the Light of the Moon, was adapted into a ballet production by choreographer, Isabelle Sjahsam, and artist, Roberto Miguel, for the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and premiered in April 2016. It is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history.
With an MFA in Writing from the California Institute of the Arts, she has performed or read at cultural centers, cafes, alternative art spaces, and universities throughout the Southwest and Latin America. She has taught mixed media visual art, poetry, and fiction to students of all ages. Her writings for older audiences have appeared in publications such as the Huffington Post, Huizache Magazine, Voices of Our Ancestors: Xicanx and Latinx Spiritual and Healing Practices, Latina Struggles and Protest in the 21st Century USA, and Women and Performance: Journal of Feminist Theory. She was a fellow at Hedgebrook, Community of Writers Workshop at Squaw Valley, Macondo Workshop, and is an alumni of the Op-Ed Project’s Write to Change the World Program. She is a founding member of Las Musas, the first collective of Latina kidlit authors in US children's literature. She is a member of Diverse Verse, a website dedicated to poetry by BIPOC and marginalized authors. She is also a co-founder of Latinx Luna a collective challenging menstruation stigmas in Latinx communities.
In a previous life, Aida produced festivals, events, protests, artist residencies, and conferences for a range of groups, non-profits, youth and popular movements. She sits on the board of the non-profit organization, Bay Area Book Festival. She consulted in the planning and design of cultural spaces including LA's Grand Park and La Plaza de Cultura & Arte in Los Angeles with Community Arts Resources (CARS).
She lives in Oakland, CA with her husband, Latin jazz musician, John Santos and her two fiery artist teens whom she homeschooled through elementary school. She is at work on a collection of essays on healing and many children’s stories. Her literary agent is Marietta Zacker of Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency.
Her critically acclaimed and award-winning debut middle grade novel in verse, THE MOON WITHIN (Scholastic), has been hailed as "Important" by the New York Times; as "a worthy successor to Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" by Kirkus Reviews; as "revolutionary and culturally ecstatic" by Juan Felipe Herrera (US Poet Laureate); won an International Latino Book Award for Middle Grade Fiction, a Golden Poppy Award, a Nerdy Book Award, an Americas Award Honor, a NCTE Notable Poetry and Verse Novel Award, and was named a Charlotte Huck Recommended Book by NCTE; it received four starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly and BookPage; was named a best book of 2019 by NPR's Book Concierge, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, The Center for Multicultural Children's Literature, Penn State Graduate School of Education and a best book of the decade by Ellen Hagan for School Library Journal. It was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, KPFA's "Hard Knock Radio," on "Making Contact" and the "Feeling My Flow" podcast. The Moon Within was printed in paperback as part of Scholastic's exclusive Gold line of award-winning books and has been translated into Spanish by Alberto Jiménez Rioja.
Aida is also the author of the multiple award-winning novel in verse, THE LAND OF THE CRANES (Scholastic) - a story about a little girl and her pregnant mother who are caged in an immigration detention facility. CRANES has won an Américas Award; California Librarian's Association John and Patricia Beatty Award; Northern California Book Award; NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor; the Jane Addams Peace Award Honor; the International Latino Book Award Honor; was selected as 2021-2022 Project LIT Book Club Pick; and chosen as a Rise Feminist Book by the American Library Association. LAND OF THE CRANES has also gained starred reviews from Kirkus who called it, "powerful... lyrical... soaring..." from Publisher's Weekly who called it "Lyrical, passionate, and all-too timely" and a star from School Library Journal who called it "beautifully told, heart-wrenching and resonant." It was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Book Page, The Center for Multicultural Children's Books; and was named one of the top ten books of the year by The New York Public Library. It was a BookCon 2020 Middle Grade Buzz Book and was featured on the Cultural Frontline on the BBC's World Service's program Cultural Impact. Land of the Cranes will be printed in paperback as part of Scholastic's exclusive Gold line of award-winning books and has been translated into Spanish by Abel Berriz.
Her novel, A SEED IN THE SUN, is a historical fiction verse novel published by Dial Books (Penguin) in October 2022. It is about a farmworking girl who longs to be a teatrista and is inspired by Dolores Huerta during the pivotal moments of the 1965 UFW grape boycott. A SEED IN THE SUN won The Tomás Rivera Children's Book Award for older readers, received a NCTE Notable Verse Novel award, was selected by the American Library Association's RISE: Feminist Book Project as a top 10 book of the year, and was a finalist for the Jane Addams Peace Award. The book also received four starred reviews from Booklist, BookPage, School Library Journal and The Horn Book. Booklist said it "turned the past into a living, breathing thing." BookPage said it made "complex history tangible." School Library Journal said it was "poignantly told." The Horn Book called it "a powerful coming-of-age-story filled with evocative language." It was voted a Best Book of 2022 by BookPage, The Center for Multicultural Literature, and chosen as a book that inspires and gives value to girls by Girls Read the World for NBC.
Aida's most recent verse novel, ULTRAVIOLET, published by Scholastic 2024, about a 13-year-old boy who falls in love for the first time and sees everything in ultraviolet colors, is a loose companion to her first novel, THE MOON WITHIN. ULTRAVIOLET received an ALA Pura Belpre Honor, was a Golden Poppy finalist award, Junior Library Guild Award, a Notable Verse Novel award from NCTE, and won an Earphones Award from Audiophile Magazine for the audiobook read by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. Salazar was named a finalist for the NSK Nuestdat Children's and Young adult Literature Award for ULTRAVIOLET. The book also received a glowing review from the New York Times who called it "savagely funny and deeply human". It was named a NPR Book of the Day and featured on an interview with Deepa Fernandes of Here and Now Radio. It was featured in Kirkus Reviews alongside Salazar with the article titled, "Is This Kidlit Author Our New Judy Blume?" written by Mahnaz Dar. It has received four starred reviews including from Kirkus who said it is "a story that sings to the soul", Publisher's Weekly called it "humorous... introspective... compassionate", School Library Journal noted it as "Yet another heartfelt and accessible tale from one of the best in modern children's literature," and BookPage who called it a "fully intersectional look at what it means to embody masculinity without toxcicity."
Her picture book based on the life of her distant great aunt, Jovita Valdovinos, JOVITA WORE PANTS: THE STORY OF A MEXICAN FREEDOM FIGHTER illustrated by Molly Mendoza released in 2023 from Scholastic. It won a 2024 Caldecott Honor, the Malka Penn Human Rights in Children's Literature Award, an International Latino Book Award Gold Medal, an International Latino Book Rising Star Award, a Eureka Award Silver Medal, a TLA -Notable Book for a Global Society Award, a Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People Award. It was named a Jr. Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and received three starred reviews and three positive reviews. Kirkus said it is "Gracefully told, with deft use of figurative language, the story is mesmerizing, bringing to life this chapter in history by focusing on one incredibly relatable, resolute individual. The illustrations are replete with vivid hues and bold brushstrokes that convey energy and movement." It was added to the following lists: the Texas Blue Bonnet, ALSC Notable Children's Book List and ALSC Dia Booklist in English and Spanish, Michigan Association of School Libraries List, and Children's Literacy Initiative Women's History month Book Selection. It was translated into Spanish by Aida herself.
In 2024, Aida launched into new territory with the board book series entitled MY LIVING WORLD published by Rise Books (an imprint of Penguin) and intended for ages 0-5. The series of poetic board books are derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom and are about establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with and respect for nature. The first in the series, entitled WHEN MOON BLOOMS was published in February, 2024 and received a starred review from School Library Journal. The second book, WHEN WATER FLOWS, released on October 29, 2024. The third board book, WHEN SUN RISES, will complete the series and will be released in Summer of 2025.
Aida co-edited with Yamile Saied Méndez, CALLING THE MOON: Period Stories by BIPOC Authors (Candlewick Press) which released on March 28, 2023. The collection brings together some of the strongest voices working in middle grade literature including Ibi Zoboi, Padma Venkatraman, Christina Soontorvat, Emma Otheguy, Elise McMullen-Ciotti, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Erin Entrada Kelly, Mason J., Leah Henderson, Nikki Grimes, Saadia Faruqi, Susan Muaddi Darraj, Veeda Bybee, Hilda Eunice Burgos. The collection has received four starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly and Booklist. Kirkus called it "a powerful, vibrant, celebration of an important milestone." SLJ said it is "a much needed addition to library collections." Publisher's Weekly said it is "A love letter to all who menstruate, one that is both welcoming and inclusive." Booklist called it, "essential compelling and unique."
She wrote the poems for an anthology created by Alina Chau, entitled IN THE SPIRIT OF A DREAM: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color (Scholastic, Fall 2021) which features thirteen different immigrants illustrated by thirteen different illustrators (all of whom are either immigrant or children of immigrants). The picture book received a Eureka Honor Book Award from the California Reading Association and a Silver Medal Award from the International Latino Book Awards.
Aida has translated four picture books from English into Spanish: LA PANZA DE MAMA by Isabel Quintero and illustrated by Iliana Galvez, AL PIE DE LA MONTAÑA by Traci Sorell, PAZ (PEACE) by Baptiste and Miranda Paul illustrated by Esteli Meza; and OJALA SUPIERAS (I WISH YOU KNEW) by Jackie Azua Kramer illustrated by Magdalena Mora. She also translated into English the novel, NEVERFORGOTTEN (NUNCASEOLVIDA), by Alejandra Algorta, illustrated by Ivan Rickennman - voted a top 10 book of the year by the New York Times and received a Silver Medal Honor in Translation from the International Latino Book Awards.
She has contributed to the middle grade anthology, THIS IS OUR RAINBOW, and the young adult anthologies, LIVING BEYOND BORDERS and ALLIES. Her story, By the Light of the Moon, was adapted into a ballet production by choreographer, Isabelle Sjahsam, and artist, Roberto Miguel, for the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and premiered in April 2016. It is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history.
With an MFA in Writing from the California Institute of the Arts, she has performed or read at cultural centers, cafes, alternative art spaces, and universities throughout the Southwest and Latin America. She has taught mixed media visual art, poetry, and fiction to students of all ages. Her writings for older audiences have appeared in publications such as the Huffington Post, Huizache Magazine, Voices of Our Ancestors: Xicanx and Latinx Spiritual and Healing Practices, Latina Struggles and Protest in the 21st Century USA, and Women and Performance: Journal of Feminist Theory. She was a fellow at Hedgebrook, Community of Writers Workshop at Squaw Valley, Macondo Workshop, and is an alumni of the Op-Ed Project’s Write to Change the World Program. She is a founding member of Las Musas, the first collective of Latina kidlit authors in US children's literature. She is a member of Diverse Verse, a website dedicated to poetry by BIPOC and marginalized authors. She is also a co-founder of Latinx Luna a collective challenging menstruation stigmas in Latinx communities.
In a previous life, Aida produced festivals, events, protests, artist residencies, and conferences for a range of groups, non-profits, youth and popular movements. She sits on the board of the non-profit organization, Bay Area Book Festival. She consulted in the planning and design of cultural spaces including LA's Grand Park and La Plaza de Cultura & Arte in Los Angeles with Community Arts Resources (CARS).
She lives in Oakland, CA with her husband, Latin jazz musician, John Santos and her two fiery artist teens whom she homeschooled through elementary school. She is at work on a collection of essays on healing and many children’s stories. Her literary agent is Marietta Zacker of Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency.