I first discovered Joe Cepeda long ago while preparing for my then Preschool Pajama Storytime through the book Captain Bob Sets Sail.  Captain Bob is a young boy with a very active imagination while he’s taking his nightly bath.  The vibrant illustrations caught my eye immediately.  They vibrate with energy and action and the characters exude warmth and charm.  After using that book very successfully in my storytime, I went in search for other Joe Cepeda books and was not disappointed.  His large array of illustrated books feature diverse children and families and celebrate the multicultural beauty of our world through new stories and traditional folktales.  When researching a bit more about him, I was delighted to find a local connection as he studied engineering here at Cornell.

Other great books illustrated by Joe Cepeda include:

Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron

N is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya

Juan Bobo Goes to Work: A Puerto Rican Folktale by Marisa Montes

We Were Tired of Living in a House by Liesel Moak Skorpen

TCPL owns many of Mr. Cedepa’s books and I don’t think you will be disappointed to check them out!

-Sarah, Youth Services Librarian and Department Head