Photograph by Mariana Orraca

ABOUT C.V. MONTERRUBIO

C.V. Monterrubio is author of multiple bilingual picture books for children and the creator of the popular puppet show “Balagan!” (currently streaming on YouTube). She’s the head of BBU Publishing, the editorial branch of BookBank USA, both located in the Bay Area of California.

She’s always loved to read and is forever grateful that her parents and grandpa always provided her with books. Likely to find her at the Main Library of San Francisco checking out books for her and for her puppet show, which features (what else?) reading puppets.

She created her first stories and characters at the age of six, and wrote her first poem at thirteen. She’s also penned numerous letters. She writes, thinks and rants in English and Spanish from a young age. She believes in respect and the “Golden Rule”.

FAQ

Because I have an “auntie” soul and I have a lot of fun in “kid world”. I’ve been a teacher to children 5 to 10 years old and I have some nieces, nephews and even grandkids.

Yes. Sasha De Sola is still a prima ballerina from the San Francisco Ballet, and she told me her story from early childhood until the year I wrote the book (2018).

No. To learn about Sasha’s world, we got together a few times in San Francisco to talk and do some creative work together. I also attended rehearsals and presentations, and read about the history and terminology of classical ballet.

The story on the reverse cover of the book about a boy is a fictional one. I didn’t give him a name so that the reader can do that. Gabriela, the illustrator, got the inspiration for his look based on several male dancers and a person she cares for a lot. Some kids have mentioned that he looks a bit like the Hernández brothers Isaac and Esteban, famous ballet dancers born and raised in Mexico who now dance in the London and San Francisco Ballets.

I have several, can’t have just one. From the classics that I read as a kid I loved (in no specific order): “Little Women”, “Heart”, the collections of “Choose your own adventure” and “Solve the Mystery”, “Neverending Story”, “Momo”, the complete works of E. Allan Poe, G. Khalil Gibrán, Rainer M. Rilke, and the poems and prose of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Jaime Sabines, Pablo Neruda, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I’ve lost many books along the years but luckily libraries still exist.

His name is Max, but almost everyone calls him Maxi. His life story is an adventure worthy of telling, so stay tuned for it.

It depends. I’m bilingual in my daily life and I read in both languages, so when I’m researching for a book, I usually begin writing in the language that my research was written on or my interviews were made on. Believe it or not, I also dream in both languages!

Producing and publishing my own books means I’m responsible for coordinating the teamwork (the illustrator, the editor and the manufacturing and printing of the units) and all the legal aspects like copyright registry. There have been many challenges but they’ve taught me a lot. The biggest one for sure was the first book I produced because I had no experience in the matter so I had to learn it on the path to make it.

Children’s books are usually categorized by different age groups because the amount of words and their complexity correspond to the interests and learning processes of their target audiences. The reason I notify of the age restriction is to help my readers navigate their content according to their age and criteria. If you’re a kid, I’m sure the blog content won’t be of interest, but you can check out the books on video in media.

It’s a good way to reduce the carbon footprint of the content I post online. Remember: erase the emails you no longer need to help reduce your carbon footprint!

The events are scheduled as they come up, and since March 2020 they’ve all been virtual/online. You can find out if something comes up at the Instagram @ontiptoes.depuntitas or @bookbankusawhere we post upcoming events.
The true artist helps the world
Presentando El Árbol
First Books 2
Tita
C.V. in SFO
First Books 1

BOOKS

Portada del libro El Jardín Lunar

THE MOON GARDEN ·
EL JARDÍN LUNAR

Follow the story of Paulo as he learns about urban moon gardening and growing your own food in a greenhouse within an retirement home for elders, where he also befriends an old lady. Bilingual picture book English/Spanish. Includes one hand-sized moon gardening calendar.

Book Cover for Tita Colors Love

TITA & THE COLORS OF LOVE ·
TITA Y LOS COLORES DEL AMOR

Is it possible to feel different kinds of love? Using a prism and a little lamp, Tita shares with her curious granddaughter a simple approach to the many dimensions and layers of love. Bilingual picture book Spanish/English.

Book cover of Do Whales Poop?

DO WHALES POOP? ·
¿LAS BALLENAS HACEN POPÓ?

Based on recent research by different marine biologists and packed with natural science, this fun book will let its readers know exactly how important whales are to the survival of the ocean and humans. Bilingual picture book Spanish/English.

Book cover of On Tiptoes

ON TIPTOES ·
DE PUNTITAS

A book with a double cover and two stories that tells the real life and challenges of Sasha De Sola, principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, and a second fictional story about a boy who falls in love with her and ballet. Bilingual picture book Spanish/English.