Monica Brown

Monica Brown is the author of the LOLA LEVINE chapter book series and 30 award-winning picture books including Waiting for the Biblioburro (illus by John Parra, Random House), The Turquoise Room (illus by Adriana M. Garcia, Lee & Low), and Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina (illus by Sara Palacios, Lee & Low). Her picture book biographies include Dona Fela’s Dream: The Story of Puerto Rico’s First Female Mayor illustrated by Rosa Ibarra (Little Brown),  Tito Puente: Mambo King/ Tito Puente: Rey del mambo (illus by Rafael López, Harper), and Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People (illus by Julie Paschikas, Holt), Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro (illus by Mirelle Ortega, Harper). Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/ Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello (illus by Elisa Chavarri, Lee & Low); and Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos (illus by John Parra, NorthSouth). Monica’s books have received multiple starred reviews, Pura Belpré Honors, Américas Awards, NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor for Nonfiction, New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and The Christopher Award, among many other accolades. New from Monica: The Fintastical Tales of Mari A. Fisch new chapter book series illustrated by Emily Mendoza , She Persisted: Dolores Huerta, and Singing Justice, Singing Peace: The Story of Joan Baez illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Molly Mendoza coming in spring 2026!

Monica’s LOLA LEVINE chapter book series stars a biracial, bicultural second grader. Lola Levine Is Not Mean! was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Year, a School Library Journal Top 10 Latin@ Book, and a New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing. Two new books in the series are coming in spring 2026–Lola Levine Runs Out of Steam,  and Lola Levine and the Dinosaur Scene (Little Brown). Monica is also the co-author of the Sarai Gonzalez chapter book series, with 12-year-old social activist and “Soy Yo” video star. The fictional series based on Sarai’s life, Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome, Sarai in the Spotlight, Sarai Saves the Music, and Sarai and the Around the World Fair, are available in English and Spanish editions.

Monica’s books are inspired by her Peruvian and Jewish heritage and desire to bring diverse stories to children.  She is a professor at Northern Arizona University and lives with her family in Arizona. Visit her on the web www.monicabrown.net and http://lolalevine.net and the Sarai series website!  Follow her on Facebook and twitter @monicabrownbks

Listen to Monica on NPR’s All Things Considered

Read Monica’s interview with Julie Danielson “Building Connections with Monica Brown” in Kirkus Reviews

Read Monica’s “The Multiracial Population Is Growing, But Kid Lit Isn’t Keeping Up” in School Library Journal