Raquel M. Ortiz

Raquel M. Ortiz is co-author of the first children's book published by Red Sugarcane Press —Vicki and A Summer of Change! !Vicki y un verano de Cambio!

Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Dr. Raquel M. Ortiz has been making art and telling stories since she was little. She is an award-winning children's book author.

Her books include Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural / Sofi y el mágico mural musical, Planting Flags on Division Street/ Sembrando banderas en la calle Division, Sofi Paints her Dreams/ Sofi pinta sus suenos and When Julia Danced Bomba/ Cuando Julia bailaba bomba.

Dr. Ortiz creates educational materials for the Puerto Rican Heritage Cultural Ambassadors Program at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York City. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Salamanca and has worked at The Brooklyn Museum, the Allen Memorial Art Museum and El Museo del Barrio. Dr. Ortiz is the author of El Arte de la Identidad, the documentary Memories of the Wall: Education and Enrichment through Community Murals and textbooks and educational materials for children in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Dr. Ortiz explains why she writes children's books,

"As a mother of two, I want my children to have the opportunity to enjoy

stories about activities that are familiar and people that look like them.

But, there aren’t many picture books available for children from Caribbean

and Latinx countries. I want to create stories that celebrate these traditions

and histories, allowing all children and families to join in on adventures to

new worlds within cities with which they’re familiar."

Vicki and A Summer of Change! ¡Y un verano de cambio! co-authored by Raquel M. Ortiz and Iris Morales is a story about two sisters in East Harlem. Inspired by historical events, it narrates what happened when the people in the neighborhood unite to bring about positive changes.