Jump to navigation Jump to Content

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • YouTube
En español
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
WETA Donate
Home
A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners
  • ELL Basics
    • Supporting ELLs Through COVID-19
    • New to Teaching ELLs?
    • ELL Glossary
    • Special Populations
    • Resources by Grade
    • ELL Resources by State
    • ELL Policy & Research
    • ELL News Headlines
    • Serving and Supporting Immigrant Students
    • Special Education and ELLs
  • School Support
    • Social and Emotional Support for ELLs
    • ELL School Enrollment
    • Bilingual & Dual-Language Education: Overview
    • COVID-19 & ELLs
    • College Readiness for ELLs
    • ELL Program Planning
    • Events During the School Year
    • Assessment
    • Programs for Success
    • Special Education and ELLs
    • School Libraries
    • ELL Family Outreach
    • For Administrators
    • For Paraprofessionals
  • Teaching ELLs
    • New to Teaching ELLs?
    • Supporting Newcomer Students: Resource Gallery
    • Creating a Welcoming Classroom
    • ELL Classroom Strategy Library
    • ELL Strategies & Best Practices
    • Language & Vocabulary Instruction
    • Literacy Instruction
    • Content Instruction for ELLs
    • Common Core
    • Special Education and ELLs
    • Technology & ELLs
    • The Role of ESL Teachers
    • Special Populations
    • Navigating Tough Topics in the Classroom: Tips for ELL Educators
  • For Families
    • Help Your Child Learn to Read
    • Learning Together at Home
    • The Preschool Years
    • Schools and Families: An Important Partnership
    • School Success
    • Raising Bilingual Kids
    • Technology at Home
    • Resources for Parents of Teens
    • Visiting the Public Library
    • When Your Children Need Extra Help
  • Books & Authors
    • Books for Young Children
    • Books for Kids
    • Books for Young Adults
    • Books for Professionals
    • Diverse Books: Resource Guide
    • BookFinder
    • Pura Belpré: Her Life and Legacy
    • Literacy Calendar
    • Meet the Authors
  • Videos
    • Classroom Videos
    • Advice for New Teachers of ELLs
    • Webcasts
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Experts
    • Meet the Administrator
    • Facebook Live Series
    • PBS Show: Becoming Bilingual
    • Being Bilingual Is a Superpower!
    • Family Literacy: Multilingual Video Series
    • Supporting ELLs During COVID-19: Educator Voices
  • Audience
    • Teachers
    • Administrators
    • Paraprofessionals
    • Librarians
    • Parents & Families
  • Resource Library
    • ELL Classroom Strategy Library
    • Guides & Toolkits
    • Multilingual Tips for Families
    • Reading Tips for Parents (Multilingual)
    • Reading Tips for Educators
    • Topics A to Z
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Research & Reports
    • Web Resources
    • ELL Resources by State
    • Colorín Colorado Blog
    • Natural Disaster Resources for Schools
    • Responding to a Crisis

You are here

  1. Home ›
  2. Videos ›
  3. Meet the Authors ›
  4. Meet the Author: Eric Velasquez

Meet the Author: Eric Velasquez

Meet the Author: Eric Velasquez

On this page

  • Memories from My Childhood
  • Stories About My Grandmother
  • Becoming an Artist
  • The Legacy of Arturo Schomburg
  • En español | Videos in Spanish

Eric Velasquez is an award-winning author and illustrator of beloved classics such as Grandma's Records, Grandma's Gift, and Octopus Stew. He has also illustrated and designed book covers for numerous titles.

In this interview with Colorin Colorado, Mr. Velasquez talks about his memories of his grandmother, learning to read, and the experiences that led to him becoming a renowned artist today.

Books by this author

Memories from My Childhood

Growing up in Spanish Harlem

Growing up in Spanish Harlem

What I remember about "Reading Group C"

What I remember about "Reading Group C"

What the "Black Panther" comics meant to me

What the "Black Panther" comics meant to me

Stories About My Grandmother

When my grandmother listened to her records in the middle of the night

When my grandmother listened to her records in the middle of the night

The story behind "Grandma's Records"

The story behind "Grandma's Records"

What I have learned from navigating life as an Afro-Puerto Rican

What I have learned from navigating life as an Afro-Puerto Rican

The museum visit that inspired "Grandma's Gift"

The museum visit that inspired "Grandma's Gift"

How a painting of Juan de Pareja showed me that I could be an artist

How a painting of Juan de Pareja showed me that I could be an artist

Eric Velasquez reads an excerpt from "Grandma's Gift"

Eric Velasquez reads an excerpt from "Grandma's Gift"

Becoming an Artist

The art teacher who believed in me

The art teacher who believed in me

The art contest that changed my life

The art contest that changed my life

My artistic style and media

My artistic style and media

My mom was a secret artist

My mom was a secret artist

My story about "The Snowy Day"

My story about "The Snowy Day"

My great-uncle Felix, the architect

My great-uncle Felix, the architect

The Legacy of Arturo Schomburg

Bringing Arturo Schomburg's legacy to life

Bringing Arturo Schomburg's legacy to life

Discovering the connection between Pura Belpré and Arturo Schomburg

Discovering the connection between Pura Belpré and Arturo Schomburg

The importance of education in Santurce, Puerto Rico

The importance of education in Santurce, Puerto Rico

En español | Videos in Spanish

Eric Velasquez: Tenemos que compartir la historia de la familia

Eric Velasquez: Tenemos que compartir la historia de la familia

Eric Velasquez lee un excerpto de "El regalo de mi abuela"

Eric Velasquez lee un excerpto de "El regalo de mi abuela"

Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. © Copyright 2023 WETA Public Broadcasting.

Artwork by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator David Diaz and Pura Belpr­é Award-winning illustrator Rafael López is used with permission. Homepage illustrations ©2009 by Rafael López originally appeared in "Book Fiesta" by Pat Mora and used with permission from HarperCollins.

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy (WETA)
  • ELL Basics
    • Supporting ELLs Through COVID-19
    • New to Teaching ELLs?
    • ELL Glossary
    • Special Populations
    • Resources by Grade
    • ELL Resources by State
    • ELL Policy & Research
    • ELL News Headlines
    • Serving and Supporting Immigrant Students
    • Special Education and ELLs
  • School Support
    • Social and Emotional Support for ELLs
    • ELL School Enrollment
    • Bilingual & Dual-Language Education: Overview
    • COVID-19 & ELLs
    • College Readiness for ELLs
    • ELL Program Planning
    • Events During the School Year
    • Assessment
    • Programs for Success
    • Special Education and ELLs
    • School Libraries
    • ELL Family Outreach
    • For Administrators
    • For Paraprofessionals
  • Teaching ELLs
    • New to Teaching ELLs?
    • Supporting Newcomer Students: Resource Gallery
    • Creating a Welcoming Classroom
    • ELL Classroom Strategy Library
    • ELL Strategies & Best Practices
    • Language & Vocabulary Instruction
    • Literacy Instruction
    • Content Instruction for ELLs
    • Common Core
    • Special Education and ELLs
    • Technology & ELLs
    • The Role of ESL Teachers
    • Special Populations
    • Navigating Tough Topics in the Classroom: Tips for ELL Educators
  • For Families
    • Help Your Child Learn to Read
    • Learning Together at Home
    • The Preschool Years
    • Schools and Families: An Important Partnership
    • School Success
    • Raising Bilingual Kids
    • Technology at Home
    • Resources for Parents of Teens
    • Visiting the Public Library
    • When Your Children Need Extra Help
  • Books & Authors
    • Books for Young Children
    • Books for Kids
    • Books for Young Adults
    • Books for Professionals
    • Diverse Books: Resource Guide
    • BookFinder
    • Pura Belpré: Her Life and Legacy
    • Literacy Calendar
    • Meet the Authors
  • Videos
    • Classroom Videos
    • Advice for New Teachers of ELLs
    • Webcasts
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Experts
    • Meet the Administrator
    • Facebook Live Series
    • PBS Show: Becoming Bilingual
    • Being Bilingual Is a Superpower!
    • Family Literacy: Multilingual Video Series
    • Supporting ELLs During COVID-19: Educator Voices
  • Audience
    • Teachers
    • Administrators
    • Paraprofessionals
    • Librarians
    • Parents & Families
  • Resource Library
    • ELL Classroom Strategy Library
    • Guides & Toolkits
    • Multilingual Tips for Families
    • Reading Tips for Parents (Multilingual)
    • Reading Tips for Educators
    • Topics A to Z
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Research & Reports
    • Web Resources
    • ELL Resources by State
    • Colorín Colorado Blog
    • Natural Disaster Resources for Schools
    • Responding to a Crisis
  • News Headlines
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • YouTube

Visit WETA's other education websites: Start with a Book  |  Reading Rockets |  AdLit  |  LD OnLine | Reading Universe

Web development by Boxcar Studio and Rapid Development Group

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
WETA