As part of Women’s History Month, children’s author Diane Gonzales Bertrand will share her work and expertise with aspiring writers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on Thursday, Mar. 9 at 7 p.m. in Corpus Christi Hall, Room 118. The reading is free and open to the public and is hosted by the Women’s Center, the Department of English and Title V program.

Gonzales Bertrand, a Latino Literary Hall of Fame inductee, is the author of four bilingual picture books for children—Uncle Chente’s Picnic/El picnic de Tío Chente (2001), The Last Doll/La última muñeca (2000), Family, Familia (1999), and Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup/Caldo, caldo, caldo (1997). She has also written three novels for middle and high school audiences— Sweet Fifteen (1995), Lessons of the Game (1999), and Close to the Heart (2002). Other works penned by Gonzales Bertrand include two novels for middle school students, the critically-acclaimed Trino’s Choice (1999) and Trino’s Time (2001), both named Best Book of the Year in the young adult category by National Latino Literary Hall of Fame, and the intermediate novel Alicia's Treasure (1996). 

As part of the University’s outreach efforts, Gonzales Bertrand will read excerpts from her book Trino’s Choice to 6th-8th grade students at Martin Middle School at 9 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 10. To prepare the middle school students for Gonzales Bertrand’s visit, University English students held reading circles on her book Trino’s Choice.

Following the reading at Martin Middle School, Gonzales Bertrand will attend a literacy luncheon at the Boys and Girls Club for parents and teachers.