Dos Two
Dos Two is a bilingual children’s picture book I illustrated & edited for my senior capstone, created in collaboration with a local author & owner of Hipocampo Children’s Books in Rochester, NY. The story follows Clarita, an Afro-Latina girl embracing her Puerto Rican roots while growing up in the U.S., inspired by our shared multicultural backgrounds. The playful illustrations drew heavily from my own family & lived experiences.
Below are some of my favorite original illustrations:
Quotes
“The book Dos Two reminds me of my youth, where I mostly spoke Spanish at home because my parents were Spanish dominant and English at school and with my friends. It captures how children like us navigate the languages based on our environment. Our brains are constantly translating back and forth. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.”
- Dr. Miriam Vázquez, Co-Founder, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School
“A charming, relatable and thoughtful book on the promises and challenges of growing up bilingual, Dos Two brings home Puerto Rican culture to Nueva York. Padrón's poetic storytelling and Criollo-Rivera's moving illustrations make for a book full of love and learning.”
- Pablo Miguel Sierra Silva, Associate Professor of History, University of Rochester
“Dos Two is a beautiful piece of children’s literature and an act of resistance at a time when multiculturalism and multilingualism are being suppressed. Clarita’s story reminds us of the beauty of honoring who we are by celebrating our culture, language, and community. This book is a must-have for every classroom.”
- Melissa Rodriguez-Meehan, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Inclusive Education, SUNY Brockport
Illustrations
Interactive Bilingual Storybook
In addition to creating the physical book, I collaborated with a group of students to develop a digitally interactive version that uses digital tools to support bilingual learning and reading comprehension. The website features the story in animated form, along with audio, games, and a glossary.
Use the following website to explore our process documentation, learn more about the prototype, and see the team involved in developing the project.