Francisco X. Alarcón

Like many other Mexicans at the time, Francisco X. Alarcon's grandparents moved to the U.S. following the Mexican Revolution (1910-917). They returned to Mexico after the Big Depression. Alarcon's U.S. born mother and uncles returned to the U.S. in the 40s during the war effort. For Alarcon, who was born in the U.S. but also lived in Guadalajara, Mexico as a child, the border doesn't really exist. Francisco Alarcon is a bi-national, bi-cultural, bilingual poet and educator. His children's books vividly paint pictures of Latino culture, family, fun, and flavor. Alarcón currently directs the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California, Davis.

Books by This Author

Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems

Student riding bike
Illustrated by: Maya Christina Gonzalez
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Celebrate city life, school, and family while sharing loss, earthquakes and even Ángeles del mar (sea angels) in vivid illustrations and short poems presented in both Spanish and English. Though some poems are distinctly southern Californian, all resonate with universally recognizable emotions.

Animal Poems of the Iguazú

Animal near the Iguazú
Illustrated by: Maya Christina Gonzalez
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Inspired by a visit to the Iguazú National Park in South America, Francisco X. Alarcón celebrates its animals, skies, waterfalls, and more in these short and vibrant bilingual poems. Each page holds pulsating paintings that swirl and move, further vivifying each poem.

Family Poems for Every Day of the Week/Poemas familiares para cada día de la semana

Family Poems for Every Day of the Week
Illustrated by: Maya Christina Gonzalez
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Children spend Sunday visiting their grandparents, play with school friends on Monday, daydream on Tuesday, eat popcorn at the local market on Wednesday, and more, until we arrive at Saturday, when they get to play nonstop all day. Along the way, we also learn how the names of the seven days came to be. Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcón's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States.

Poems to Dream Together

Child sleeping under sky
Illustrated by: Paula Barragan
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Dreams are for the day and the night. Children dream for themselves as well as their community and their world. Short poems, richly imagined and vibrantly illustrated appear in English and Spanish and are firmly rooted in a child's experience.