From idea to published book…what a process! It takes passion, practice, preparation, patience, and perseverance! And that’s why our Book Birthday posts are so very special because we are celebrating all of that hard work – and we are thrilled that the story we hoped to share is ready to fly into the hands of young readers. More than anything, our children need books that will lift them up and empower them to believe in themselves…so, when I heard that UNIQUE LIKE YOU, written by Allison and Rafael Rozo and illustrated by Angie Alape, I knew I had to share it with you.
And guess what? Allison stopped by to share the story behind the story…and to offer a wonderful GIVEAWAY…one lucky person will receive a copy of the book AND an adorable stuffy!
ME: Dear friends…that’s a cover to sing about, right? So, let’s welcome Allison who co-wrote this story with her husband…and she’s going to talk about how that process unfolded also. Allison, thanks for stopping by Picture Books Help Kids Soar!
ALLISON: Thank you so much Vivian for helping us celebrate the Book Birthday of UNIQUE LIKE YOU, a story that is near and dear to our hearts! We would be thrilled to do a Giveaway of a signed copy of our book!
SHORT SUMMARY OF UNIQUE LIKE YOU
What makes you unique?
While helping her Mamá collect empty cans, old newspapers, and other recyclable treasure to sell, Lina discovers a wall of graffiti with the words ÚNICO COMO TÚ, UNIQUE LIKE YOU. This discovery sends her on a quest through Bogotá, Colombia, to find treasure where she least expects it, and to discover what makes her unique.
With Spanish vocabulary woven throughout the story, Unique Like You transports readers to the colorful streets of Bogotá and encourages them to look at the world with curious eyes. What unique treasures wait to be discovered around us? What makes each of us unique? A helpful glossary in the back of the book makes it an accessible read for all.
WHY WE WROTE UNIQUE LIKE YOU
UNIQUE LIKE YOU was inspired by a photograph I took in 2009 on a trip with Rafael to Bogotá, Colombia of recicladores (a mother, her young daughter, and their donkey who collect reusable trash to sell or trade) in the middle of the bustling capital city as they stopped in front of a wall of graffiti with the words ÚNICO COMO TÚ, UNIQUE LIKE YOU. The image sent us on a journey of looking at our own world with new eyes, seeing special things that are all around us every moment.
Rafael is from Bogotá, and together we created a story that represents our family and incorporates pieces of his beloved city, including graffiti art. It shows how one small moment on an average day can inspire a journey of discovery about how each one of us is unique, from a far-off country to our own neighborhood. As youths, it would have been invaluable to have a relatable character, like Lina, who speaks a different language, and is impoverished, but sees trash as treasure, opening our eyes to the beauty that is hiding all around us.
It’s our hope that readers of UNIQUE LIKE YOU discover, not only what makes them unique, but the special things in others that make them unique as well. It doesn’t have to be big, or even one thing. Many little things make each of us unique if we take the time to look. Treasure can be found where you least expect it, in the people we talk to everyday to discarded trash collected on the street. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we wanted this book as a piece of art itself. Angie Alape’s illustrations are stunning and more beautiful than we ever imagined! You truly feel immersed in the city and find new things to see on each page.
THE WIFE & HUSBAND COLLABORATION
It is a dream come true to have this book out in the world, especially since we wrote it together. Rafael and my writing process is that I usually come up with an idea I want to explore, and I write a rough outline of the story arc or plot. Then we discuss what is working and what can be revised. When we write bilingual books, we craft the story in a way to include Spanish words and try to weave them seamlessly into the manuscript. We always add a glossary at the end of our books, but it is our intent for the words to be understood from the context and illustrations. We include moments from both of our childhoods, Rafael growing up in Colombia, and my childhood in the Midwest. We often hit walls on things that don’t translate, so we decide if it’s a language barrier or if it simply doesn’t make sense. It is a fun process, and we love creating stories that connect readers to people, places, and words that perhaps they’ve never seen or heard of before.
SHORT BIO FOR ALLISON & RAFAEL
Allison and Rafael Rozo are authors who write bilingual English and Spanish picture books to weave together their Hispanic and American cultures. They are proud to create books that represent their family—including their two children Vivian and Gianluca. The Rozos began writing when they lived in Chicago, IL, and are currently living in Akron, OH. You can go to rozobooksart.com to learn more about both Allison and Rafael.
SHORT BIO FOR ANGIE ALAPE
Angie Alape grew up drawing on cardboard boxes to build worlds to play win with her siblings. Now she illustrates picture books! When not illustrating, she loves playing with her adopted dogs and trying new restaurants. Angie was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and still lives there today.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram:
@allisonrozo
@angie.alape
Bluesky:
@allisonrozo.bsky.social
Facebook:
@allison.rozo.books
Twitter:
@allison_rozo
@AngieAlape
Link to Purchase https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506492544/Unique-Like-You
ME: Thank you so much, Allison, for all of the insights you shared…and for the giveaway!
To grab you chance to win a copy of UNIQUE LIKE YOU and that amazing little stuffy, please leave a comment. And please share this post on social media so that more folks will find out about this beautiful new book.
Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 