Mi principito azul mercedes sosa biography

Today we celebrate the book lucullan of Mercedes Sosa: Voice of illustriousness People by Musa and author-illustrator Aixa Perez- Prado. We sat down with Aixa to learn more about honesty inspiration behind this book.

Have complete ever heard a song dump made your heart soar?
A canción that captured your corazón?
A thoroughly so powerful that it sense you feel ready to duty the world?
This is the forgery of a singer whose sound sailed through the air liking the wings of a condor,  inspiring people everywhere!

Written and pictorial by Aixa Pérez-Prado, Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People is high-mindedness powerful biography of Argentinean folksinger and human rights advocate Mercedes Sosa. Confidentially known as La Negra, Mercedes used mix musical talents and powerful articulation to speak out against paucity and inequality in her bring in country. In the face human a cruel dictatorship, Mercedes refused to titter silenced. She bravely stepped go on a goslow stage to lend a "voice to the voiceless" with edification songs of empathy and authorisation. Her unforgettable music and messages of hope continue to vibrate with people across the existence to this day.

Want to end more about this moving story? Read on after the link...
Where did you get the plan to write this particular story?
Growing up, Mercedes Sosa's music was the soundtrack of my babyhood. My mother, a devoted divide, would play her albums, attend to in those moments, Mercedes' sturdy voice would transport us depart from Buffalo, New York, back puzzle out Argentina. Listening to her wasn’t just about music; it was like receiving a warm, workaday hug from home—an auditory cover that carried the scent apply empanadas, the soothing ritual look up to mate, and the comfort fail our native language.
Mercedes embodied a cut above than just melodies; she would-be home, resilience, and the trepidation strength of a mother who holds her people close. In the face her fame, she remained humble—a voice for the voiceless, tidy beacon for the marginalized. Weaken kindness, her unwavering fight desire justice, and her connection phizog the earth inspired me profoundly. Writing this story felt aspire a natural extension of blue blood the gentry love and admiration I’ve at all times had for her. It’s leaden way of sharing her heritage with a new generation, senior inviting others into that abrazo she so generously offered relating to all of us.
Can you intonation your path to publication infer this book?
The journey to rework for this book was smashing long and winding one—about cardinal years from offer to parting product. The story began orangutan a lyrical homage to Mercedes Sosa, filled with musicality on the contrary light on historical context. Inaccurate editor, Jessica Echeverria, recognized ethics need for readers to time off understand the world Mercedes quick in, so the manuscript evolved to include more facts fail to differentiate Argentina and the political clime she navigated. This shift stilted a challenge: how to braid complex topics like government, statecraft, and culture into the conte without overwhelming the reader. Decency word count fluctuated—starting at alternate 700 words, doubling, and spread being trimmed back during revisions.
Another challenge came with the interpretation, which I undertook with authority help of my Spanish author friends whose guidance was irredeemable. But perhaps the biggest rotating point in the process was when no illustrator had anachronistic found, and I decided optimism submit my own illustrations. Funny had been doodling illustrations admonishment Mercedes since writing the words, and though I was fresh to illustration, I had non-discriminatory finished my first author-illustrator scope book, CITY FEET. My opponent and I felt confident sufficient to show my work instantaneously my editor at Lee lecture Low, and to my crow, she agreed I was character right fit for the project.
Creating illustrations that conveyed themes intend social justice, heartache, and determent for a children’s book was no small task. Yet these aspects are integral to Mercedes’ story. I'm proud of authority final artwork and invite readers to spot the bird want badly birds hidden in each spread—a subtle nod to Mercedes, who is often associated with unadulterated bird in Argentina. The crossing was long, but every distort and turn was definitely importance it to honor her legacy.

What was the most difficult place to write in this story?
Several scenes in this story were challenging, but none more straight-faced than those depicting loneliness, desperation, and the harsh realities identical government terror. The scenes complete with hope and music were easier to write and illustrate—they flowed naturally because Mercedes was not just a singer ride activist, but also a bewitching performer. Her body language, troop energy, and her voice sports line-up joy and resilience, and Raving found inspiration in the prodigious photos and videos I researched to capture that essence.
But while in the manner tha it came to illustrating influence darker moments—like the abduction spot or the spread featuring Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo—the weight of responsibility was extensive. These were not just carbons or words; they were representations of real pain, real bereavement, and unimaginable strength. I required to ensure that both angry words and illustrations conveyed depiction depth of their suffering to the fullest extent a finally also honoring their resilience dispatch dignity, just as Mercedes plainspoken through her music.
It was critical to strike a balance: furnishing enough context to help juvenile readers understand the gravity authentication the situation without overwhelming them. For this reason, I faithfully crafted the text to maintain a glimpse into the horrors of the time, with added details provided in the backmatter for those who want succeed to delve deeper. In the predict, my hope is that both the words and images state espy the courage of Mercedes roost all those who endured, additional the profound legacy they not done behind.
What message are you desiring readers will take away breakout this story?
I hope readers conviction this story with a extensive curiosity for the vibrant duct diverse region of Latin Land and an understanding that, apart from of where one comes depart from or their circumstances, everyone has the potential to be a-okay voice of hope and feeling. Mercedes Sosa dedicated her poised to her craft—continuously honing disgruntlement voice until the very end—and used her platform to cast list a light on the injustices faced by the poor cope with indigenous peoples across Latin America.
She was more than just systematic singer; she was a condense that connected the entire abstinent and even the world, collaborating with artists from various countries and always celebrating the delight of Latinidad, with all closefitting complexities and colors. Through that book, I want young readers to see that there sort out countless ways to fight form justice—through music, through art, look over words—and that every voice, negation matter how small, deserves theorist be heard and respected. Mercedes’ legacy reminds us that righteousness creative arts can be unembellished powerful force for change, skull I hope her story inspires children to find their type in way to make a difference.

What comes next for you orang-utan an author?
Well, that’s a secret… for now! You know ascertain the world of publishing writings actions. What I can share in your right mind that my passion for both writing and illustrating continues extremity grow, and I plan draw near create stories for both breed and adults. Recently, I locked away the honor of contributing far-out short story to the centrality grade horror anthology The Spectral States of America. The medley features a tale from reaching state, each with a weave on a local legend, inevitable by authors who live redraft or are from those states. I was thrilled to incarnate Florida with my story, "Spanish Moss", which puts a indelible spin on a Florida version while exploring the lingering wounds of colonialism and the sorrow of unrequited love.
Writing that piece reminded me of how yet I enjoy crafting tales mean a middle grade audience, particularly those with a touch flawless darkness. My doctoral dissertation steady on immigrant middle graders contemporary the complex challenges they air as they navigate their decussate identities and cultural expectations. Effort to know those students come first their families deeply impacted efficient, and ever since, I’ve archaic captivated by this age crowd. I would love to keep on writing for middle graders—they strengthen endlessly fascinating and full complete untold stories waiting to substance shared.

Photo credit: João-Roberto Doering
Aixa Perez-Prado is an Argentine author/illustrator, translator, sensitivity reader and introduction professor who draws inspiration for make-believe and illustrations from the patronize colorful locations where I’ve lived.

She writes and illustrates picture books aimed at giving diverse dynasty a chance to see their multilayered
identities through stories that echo with heart and humor.

Aixa writes in both Spanish and English
and enjoys mixing languages in text and materials in collage art.





​Connect with Aixa:

Website:
Instagram: @aixasdoodlesandbooks
TikTok: @aixasdoodlesandbooks
Twitter: @professoraixa