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:
Testimonials
“The book Dos Two reminds me of my youth, where I mostly spoke Spanish at home because my parents were Spanish dominant & English at school & with my friends. It captures how children like us navigate the languages based on our environment. Our brains are constantly translating back & forth. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.”
- Dr. Miriam Vázquez, Co-Founder, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School
“A charming, relatable & thoughtful book on the promises & challenges of growing up bilingual, Dos Two brings home Puerto Rican culture to Nueva York. Padrón's poetic storytelling & Criollo-Rivera's moving illustrations make for a book full of love & learning.”
- Pablo Miguel Sierra Silva, Associate Professor of History, University of Rochester
“Dos Two is a beautiful piece of children’s literature & an act of resistance at a time when multiculturalism & multilingualism are being suppressed. Clarita’s story reminds us of the beauty of honoring who we are by celebrating our culture, language, & 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 & reading comprehension. The website features the story in animated form, along with audio, games, & a glossary.
Use the following website to explore our process documentation, learn more about the prototype, & see the team involved in developing the project.
Lead Student Contributors: Nguyen (Fin) Tran, Woody Omega, Helena Peng, & Avery Blowers