Photo Gallery
Marisa and illustrator, Tanja Bauerle, greet visitors at El Portal Rain Forest Center in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico during There’s a Coqui in My Shoe! book signing. Almost a million tourists from Puerto Rico, the U.S. and abroad visit this rain forest each year.
Welcomed by Forest Supervisor, Pablo Cruz, Puerto Rico’s beloved golf pro and publisher, Chi Chi Rodriguez, drops by El Portal Rain Forest Center and joins Marisa and Tanja in signing lots of books during their very first book signing. The signing was a huge success and it was a record for the bookstore. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and helped to make it a fun and eventful day!
The display at the Julia de Burgos Bookstore and Gallery in Taller. A stylized image of Julia de Burgos is shown in background. She is considered to be one of the greatest poets of Latin America.
Executive Director of Taller, Dr. Carmen Febo San-Miguel, and me waiting for storytelling hour to begin.
My dear and good friend, Debbie Suzadail. She handles the technical aspects of the Power Point, making it run smoothly, etc. and thus making me look good.
This is Robert. He saw the book on Univision and told his Dad it was a must for him to stop by at Taller and add There’s a Coquí in My Shoe! to his library collection. Thanks, Robert!
This children’s choir from Children’s Safe Harbor, Inc. of Philadelphia were just amazing! I was teary-eyed as they sang and praised the Lord with Psalm 100 and Psalm 23. It was awesome!
Getting ready for the Power Point presentation entitled “Do You Have the Vision of a Champion?”
Libreria Paliques’ Owner, Angie Figueroa Anadon, did a fantastic job with the froggy window display. Big frogs, li’l frogs and more frogs, Oh my! It was truly adorable!
Angie was such a gracious and kind host. Thank you, Angie, for a great job publicizing the book signing event!
I loved the question and answer session immediately following storytime.
If you’re ever in Bayamon and have a sweet tooth, make it a point to visit Daylight Donuts. Owner, Pablo Ortiz Acevedo (left), stopped by with his good friend, Nestor Oritz (right), to the Libreria Paliques book signing and donated boxes and boxes of his wonderfully scrumptious, delicious doughnuts. These doughnuts are simply amazing! Really. I”m not kidding. Try one and you’re hooked. I definitely am. It’s the pieces of real fruit Pablo adds to the filling and the fresh dough made everytime. I love the coconut and pineapple fillings. I wish I had a Daylight Donut right now! Thank you, Pablo and Nestor, for your encouragment and supporting There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!
The Moravian Book Shop, the oldest book shop in the world!
I had such a great time signing books and meeting the kids and their parents. It was such a special moment for me to return to my hometown and hold a book signing at the famous Moravian Book Shop. An experience I’ll never forget.
Pictured here with Jane Clugston, the children’s book buyer at Moravian Book Shop. Thank you so much, Jane, for all your hard work in helping to make the signing a success. It was such a pleasure to have met you and your staff.
The quintessential performer, Chita Rivera! Chita was so kind to give the okay for Marisa and her husband to meet her after her performance at the Lincoln Center in New York. Marisa presents a dozen roses to an especially fabulous woman. Brava, Chita!
This is Rosie, Chita Rivera’s manager. Rosie is just wonderful and it was such a pleasure for Marisa and her husband to meet her as well. After reading There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!, Rosie asked Marisa, “Did you know that Chita’s sister’s name is Lola and her brother’s name is Armando?!” (Lola and Armando are character names in There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!). Marisa had no idea of this! Marisa truly believes there are no coincidences in life: God is awesome and orchestrates the best surprises. Thanks again, Lord, for the ongoing adventure!
Marisa’s supportive and gem-of-a-husband, Vincent, with Broadway Legend Chita Rivera after her performance at the Lincoln Center in New York. Even Vincent was taken back by Ms. Rivera’s talent and beauty (inside and out)!
I love the Please Touch Museum’s logo. The museum was formerly located in Center City, Philadelphia, drawing 200,000 visitors a year. Because of its success, the museum had to move into bigger space and is now located at Fairmont Park in Philadelphia with over 400,000 visitors a year! Truly awesome!
Here I am getting ready for storytime in the Please Touch Museum’s Story Castle. The oversized throne chair was intimidating to say the least. But as soon as I sat down, my fears dissolved as the children made me feel like queen for the day! The kids and parents were remarkably wonderful and supportive.
This is Beth Kirk, Director of Retail Operations at the Please Touch Museum. She and her staff made sure everything ran smoothly for the day. Thank you Beth, Norah, Chamee and everyone on staff at the museum for all your help. You guys are great!
This is Yolanda Jimenez-Colon, Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for Telemundo. Thanks so much, Yolanda, for your successful marketing campaign for “El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)” at the Please Touch Museum and your invitation to do a reading. Your efforts and everyone’s at Telemundo and Philly HolaCiudad are greatly appreciated!
Marisa’s 1st Place Win in the Animation Category is celebrated by her best fans! Thanks so much!
Marisa meets Edward James Olmos (Actor, Director, Community Activist, and Producer of the Latino Books & Family Festival) prior to the awards being announced at the Golden Eagle Ballroom, California State University, Los Angeles, CA
A group photo of the book to movie awards winners with Award Presenters Edward James Olmos, Kirk Whisler and Dennis Hernandez, in Los Angeles CA.
Chi Chi meets with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor during his visit to the Whitehouse.
Connie Estades, the Executive Director of the San Juan Community Library in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Connie did such a remarkable job in organizing the event. God bless her compassion and her zeal for children to excel. She has a heart of gold!
Thank you, Sylvia, for all your hard work behind the scenes and making everything run smoothly as well as all the volunteers! Sylvia Olmos is a Charter Board Member of the San Juan Community Library.
The children had a blast singing along with San Juan Community Library’s Music teacher, Maria Elisa Cintron, and friends.
In center, Laura Basara, President of EWI Lehigh Valley Chapter and Stephen Godbolt, Executive Director Northeast Ministry, with EWI workers and volunteers a the Ready Rally. Thank you, everyone, for your warm welcome! It was wonderful to meet you and thank you for supporting “There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!”
Stephen Godbolt, Executive Director of Northeast Ministry and Clara Kendy, Executive Director of Bethlehem Housing Authority support the multi-award winning book. Thank you Stephen and Clara for your continued encouragement and support!
Teaching the children at Northeast Ministry the layers of the rainforest and the rainforest song!
An inquisitive youth at the Northeast Ministry Reading Rally, asking serious questions about writing a book!
