By Rebecca Ballenger, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Author/illustrator Jose Pimienta, or Jo to those who know them, spends a lot of time on their feet running cross country, taking long walks near home and exploring new places. On a recent visit to Tucson, the Middle School Reading Ambassadors were curious about what goes on in Jo’s mind during these solo activities. “Everything,” they reply. Continuing, “I think about how my day is going. I think about what is currently happening in my life. The most recent song I heard, the book I read a month ago but still have so much to say about, or the comics I believe deserve more recognition, etc. I have fictional conversations with people I want to talk to. I think about my current projects and how to make them better. Or I think about what I’d like to eat next. But, every once in a while, I’m just looking at my surroundings without thought.”

Jo’s busy brain is put to good use as a cartoonist, author and illustrator who has worked with Random House Graphic, Iron Circus Comics, Dark Horse Comics and the Disney Digital Network. Their books include Suncatcher (YA), Luminous Beings (YA), Twin Cities (MG), Halfway to Somewhere (MG), The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur (MG) and Let’s Rumble (picturebook). This body of work provides a range of readers multiple ways to connect. Their work is relatable for those who see their family and friends in the characters or who relate with the thoughts and concerns we have as we grow and learn about ourselves and those around us. Continue reading →