Meet Addy Rivera Sonda, Illustrator of BETO'S BERRY TREASURE

"It is a story about listening to other people's needs while also not forgetting our own needs. It is a book about being kind but also not forgetting who you are and what you need and paying attention to what other people are and need, too."

-Addy Rivera Sonda, BETO'S BERRY TREASURE Illustrator

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OurShelves is your trusted resource for expert-curated diverse kids' books like BETO'S BERRY TREASURE, along with additional resources to deepen engagement with the books and topics they raise.

In this blog post, you'll find:
  • A video and discussion with Addy Rivera Sonda, illustrator of BETO'S BERRY TREASURE (authored by Jenny Lacika who made this video for OurShelves); 
  • Discussion questions to engage with Addy's wonderful video and book; and 
  • Advocacy actions you can take with your children to support diverse books and their creators amid unprecedented book bans targeting diverse books. 

 

Enjoy this special video featuring BETO'S BERRY TREASURE illustrator, Addy Rivera Sonda

In this video, Addy shares behind-the-scenes background about OurShelves book selection, BETO'S BERRY TREASURE. 

 While watching this video, you might discuss . . .

  • Who is Addy? What does Addy appreciate about playing with her younger sister?
  • Have you ever wanted to play in one way, but a friend or sibling wanted to play a different game or in a different way? How did you both handle that situation? How do Beto and Cora handle wanting to play differently?
  • What does Addy share about the cat in this book? How is it similar to her cat and different to her cat? 

Please also enjoy these wonderful related STEM activities shared by Marlene Kliman of TERC and Charlesbridge. Here's just one example below.

Engage your children in taking action!

Unprecedented book bans that disproportionally target racially, ethnically and religiously diverse, LGBTQ+, and other under-represented characters, authors, and illustrators are on the rise. (Learn more from Get Ready, Stay Ready, a community action toolkit that OurShelves and other partners helped to create.) 

Here are 5 concrete actions you and your children can take to proactively support diverse books and their creators:

  1. Buy and borrow diverse books like BETO'S BERRY TREASURE;
  2. Share this book and this video within your family, classrooms, library, and beyond (on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads);
  3. Send a note to Addy Rivera Sonda to share why this special book matters to you;
  4. Follow your favorite authors and illustrators of diverse books, like Addy Rivera Sonda (on Instagram);
  5. Leave a short review for BETO'S BERRY TREASURE and other favorite diverse books on Goodreads and Amazon.
Visit our Advocacy page for more ways to take action!
Join our e-list. Join the movement. FIRST access to NEW resources + NEW products. FREE videos, activities, guides, how to's.
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