Monica Brown

The following children's books were written by award-winning author Monica Brown.

Books by This Author

Lola Levine #6: Lola Levine and the Halloween Scream

Lola Levine in a Halloween costume
Age Level: 6-9

It's Halloween — Lola and Ben's favorite holiday. She loves pumpkins, scary costumes, monsters, and ghosts — and she likes to scare people, too. But when Lola plays a scary joke on her super best friends, Josh Blot and Bella Benitez, it doesn't go as planned. Can Lola learn from her mistake and still have a happy Halloween?

Marisol McDonald and the Clash Bash

Marisol McDonald dressed up as a pirate
Illustrated by: Sara Palacios
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Product Description: Fans of Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina won't be surprised to see the girl of many styles struggling to decide on a theme for her eighth birthday party! As if that weren't hard enough, Marisol is faced with the prospect of not being able to see her abuelita, who lives in Peru, on her special day. Her friends are in for a huge surprise when they turn up for world's most eclectic clash bash while Marisol happily gets her wish granted to see her abuelita.

Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo

Marisol McDonald dreaming of a monster
Illustrated by: Sara Palacios
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Marisol McDonald loves words that begin with the letter "m"  — except the word "monster." One night, when Marisol hears loud bumps under her bed, she is immediately convinced that a monster is making the noise. Checking under the bed does not reveal a monster, but night after night, the bumps continue. When the bumps become especially loud one night, Marisol bravely leads the charge downstairs to find the cause.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match

Illustration of a red-headed girl hanging upside down
Illustrated by: Sara Palacios
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Meet Marisol McDonald, a spunky young girl with fiery red hair and brown skin who wears green polka dots with purple stripes, mixes English and Spanish, and eats peanut butter and jelly burritos. Everyone tells her she doesn't match, until one day she tries matching — and discovers that it makes her miserable. At the end of the day, however, her teacher shares a special secret with her and lets her know she likes Marisol for who she is: a creative, bilingual Peruvian-Scottish-American!

My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz

A painting of Celiz Cruz as a child under colorful letters spelling her name
Illustrated by: Rafael López
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

The beautiful artwork of this award-winning picture book about salsa queen Celia Cruz practically jumps off the page, and conveys the spirit and rhythmic energy of her music. Learn about Cruz's childhood in Havana and her entry into the world of salsa music from vibrant illustrations and text presented in English and Spanish.

My Name Is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez

A painting of Gabriel Garcia Marquez as a young man holding a book
Illustrated by: Raúl Colón
Age Level: 6-9
Language: English, Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Monica Brown tells the story of young Gabriel García Márquez and provides children with an introduction to magical realism by showing how young Gabriel’s surroundings and imagination merged in fantastic ways, fostering his creativity and building the foundation for the legendary characters and stories he would later create. Raúl Colón brings these rich imaginings to life in vivid illustrations that complement the lyrical text. Pura Belpré Honor Award.

My Name Is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral

A painting of Gabriela Mistral as a child
Illustrated by: John Parra
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

"My name is Gabriela Mistral. It is a name I chose myself because I like the sound of it." With these words, Monica Brown introduces us to the Chilean poet and author who, in 1945, became the first Latin American writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The lyrical text and exquisite illustrations bring Gabriela's childhood and talent to life for young readers.

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People

Painting of young Pablo Neruda sitting under a tree
Illustrated by: Julie Paschkis
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Neftali always loved nature and words. This fondness allowed Neftali — better known as Pablo Neruda — to create poetry in a "voice [that] was heard across nations and ocean." Rich language and lush illustrations that incorporate words in Spanish and English are sure to enthuse young writers while introducing this Nobel-winning poet.

Pelé: King of Soccer

Painting of Pele kicking a soccer ball
Illustrated by: Rudy Gutierrez
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

Did you know that as a boy, Pelé played soccer in bare feet with a grapefruit instead of a soccer ball? Monica Brown shares the inspirational story of the beloved soccer star's rise from humble beginnings to becoming El rey del fútbol. Rudy Gutiérrez's brilliant and fluid illustrations of Pelé and "the beautiful game" of soccer leap off the page. Bilingual text. Curriculum guide available.

Sarai #1: Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome

smiling girl in glasses with hands on her hips and drawings of cupcakes and photos around her.

Fourth grader Sarai Gonzalez can do anything. She can bake, dance, and run her own cupcake business. But when Sarai's grandparents are forced to move, even Sarai's not sure what to do. So she hatches a super-awesome plan with her younger sisters and cousin to buy back the house. But houses are more expensive than she ever thought, her sisters won't listen, and she's running out of time. Will Sarai find a way to save the day?

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