Juana Medina

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She is the author and illustrator of the Pura Belpré Award-winning chapter book Juana & Lucas. Juana's other author-illustrated books include I WILL!, I AM!, Juan & Lucas: Big Problemas, 1 Big Salad, ABC Pasta, and Sweet Shapes. She has earned recognition from the Colombian Presidency, the National Cartoonists Society, the National Headliner Awards, the International Latino Book Awards, and the Ridgway Awards, among others -- quite impressive for someone who was a less-than-stellar student and often got in trouble for drawing cartoons of her teachers. Despite all the trouble caused, Juana studied and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the Corcoran College of Art + Design (where students had plenty of chances to draw cartoons of her). She lives in the DC area, with her wife, twin sons, and their dear dog, Rosita.