My Reflection

It feels like my dream is starting to become a reality. For so long I have had ideas floating around in my head surrounding what my brick and mortar bookstore would be. It feels amazing to start taking baby steps in that direction. This week I created my first account with a wholesale distributor to carry a collection of books called Lil’ Libros. Lil’s Libros is a woman founded company that creates bilingual children’s books.

Choosing Lil’ Libros as my first collection is intentional and very dear to my heart. I am a Chicana woman, born and raised in California. My mother has stories regarding the intense racism she experienced in the California school system. She has often told us about how she used to get hit for speaking Spanish in class. This often confused her because being bilingual she was usually interpreting for a student who could not understand the teacher. While this was not my experience in the California school system in the 70’s and 80’s, choosing this collection is a nod to my mom. It is my humble acknowledgement that there is nothing wrong with being bilingual, speaking Spanish, or helping a classmate.

My goal is to bring this level of care and intention with each decision of which books to carry in my bookstore. I know that I must be careful with this approach and hold a certain degree of dispassion. Sometimes the world is not kind when you share too much of yourself.