Azul López – illustratör

Everyday life mixes with the magical in this enchanting collection of poems. A tiny horse gallops across the table. The moon draws astronauts out into the park. Mountains move, fish fly, and the monster under the bed is surprisingly helpful. When You Were A Cloud is an invitation to look more closely at the world around us and to see nature and language in a new light.María José Ferrada’s poems are playful, speaking directly to the reader with no doubt that they are ready for these fantastical linguistic adventures. Winner of the 2018 Premio Hispanoamericano de Poesía para Niños.

2025 Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Book of the Year. A tender fable about overcoming loneliness and welcoming new possibilities. A giant stands on the shore of a secluded city: a place where no trains pass through, where you can hear the sound of birds, and the air smells of bread. What would happen if the giant entered the city? Would the people welcome him? Would they invite him to play in their games? Would they tell him stories and teach him to dance? Would he need lawn mowers to trim his beard and power cables to jump rope? Or would he simply return to the waves? Featuring poignant, acrylic paintings by award-winning illustrator Azul Lopez, Giant on the Shore is a tale of vulnerability and belonging that explores the enormity of self-doubt and the tremendous potential in taking risks.