Veromundo

A few days ago, one of my distributors told me that a customer felt my book “Soñadores” was “out of date” because immigration laws have changed.
I wrote the following response for the customer, and I felt it was important to share it more broadly.
I believe “Soñadores” is even more relevant today than when it was published in 2020 because, now more than ever, it is important to understand the challenges undocumented children and youth face and to humanize them rather than reduce them to statistics. Many undocumented children are currently growing up with greater fear and uncertainty about their future, and the emotional reality portrayed in the book continues to reflect the experiences of many families today.
When I wrote “Soñadores,” I knew immigration laws and policies could change. For that reason, I intentionally set the story between 2009 and 2012 and gave it an open ending that acknowledges both the significance of DACA and the uncertainty surrounding its future. The book ends by emphasizing that Dreamers continue fighting for their rights and that immigration policies can profoundly affect individuals, families, and entire communities.
None of that has changed.
What has changed is that the situation for Dreamers and DACA recipients has become even more uncertain and fragile under the current administration. If anything, the themes at the heart of “Soñadores,” including belonging, uncertainty, resilience, and hope, are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published.

📝 The Spanish expression of the week: ¿Qué te cuentas?
🔎 Meaning: What’s up? / What’s new with you? / What have you been up to?
📌 Example: 
— ¡Hola, Ana! ¿Qué te cuentas?
— No mucho, aquí trabajando y sobreviviendo al calor.

— “Hey Ana, what’s up?”
— “Not much, just working and surviving the heat.”
🧐 Do you use it? How do you use it? 🌎 Where are you from? Share your example in the comments!
expresiónidiomática spanishidioms spanishidiom

Did you know Carla no habla is a mother-daughter project?
This graphic novel for Level 1 Spanish learners is the result of a collaboration between me, the author of the story, and my daughter, Olivia Chandler, who was only 13 when she completed the illustrations for the book.
Olivia, now 14, is a student at Oakland School for the Arts, where she is continuing to develop her path in visual arts as she begins 9th grade next year.
This is the second graphic novel we have published together, and it has been an incredibly meaningful creative journey for both of us.

What a pleasure to meet Matt Braly, creator of the Disney series Amphibia! I was truly inspired by his talk and loved connecting over our shared passion for graphic novels.
He was especially impressed that my daughter illustrated both of my graphic novels, LOLA at age 11 and CARLA NO HABLA at age 13.
My graphic novels were specially created for Level 1 Spanish learners. They combine engaging stories, illustrations, and comprehensible language to help students acquire Spanish naturally while enjoying reading. Teachers are always looking for materials that are both compelling and accessible, and that was exactly my goal when creating these books.

🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week Special! 🍎

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, all Teacher Guides at CPLI.net
— including mine — are 25% OFF through the end of Saturday, May 9!

If you’re using my books in your classroom, this is a great opportunity to grab the Teacher Guides at a discounted price and get extra support, lesson ideas, and resources for your students.

✨ Don’t miss out — take advantage of the sale before it expires!

Because the first Sunday of May we celebrate World Laughter Day, what better way to enjoy it than with humor that also helps you learn? 😄
This book is a compilation of 30 funny stories and jokes from different origins, written almost entirely in the present tense with simple vocabulary, simple grammatical structures, and lots of repetition—ideal for Level 2 and up.
✨ What makes it special:
• Short, easy-to-read jokes (100–150 words each)
• Comical illustrations to support comprehension
• Vocabulary list with every story
• Optional questions for deeper learning:
* *Preguntas de comprensión*
* *Usa tu imaginación*
* *Preguntas sobre la historia* & *Preguntas personales*
These questions are a great extra resource for teachers, and the book also includes a **“Notas para el maestro”** section with more ideas on how to use the stories in class.
📚 *Chistes para aprender español* is available at your favorite online store, including my website: https://veromundo.store/.../chistes-para-aprender-espanol/
Let’s celebrate laughter while learning! 😁

📝 The Spanish expression of the week: “Verle la cara”
🔎 Meaning: To take advantage of someone / to fool someone / to treat someone like they’re naive
📌 Example: Les vieron la cara y les cobraron de más.
→ “They took advantage of them and overcharged them.
This expression is common in countries like Ecuador 🇪🇨 and other Spanish-speaking regions.
🧐 Do you use it? How do you use it? 🌎 Where are you from? Share your example in the comments!
expresiónidiomática spanishidioms spanishidiom

Several times in my life I’ve crossed paths with people who didn’t say a single word in social situations. Each time it was someone different. A little girl of six who played with my niece for hours without ever speaking. A friend of a friend in her mid-twenties who laughed and joined in the fun but never said a word. A woman in her thirties who came to parties with her husband yet stayed silent while everyone else chatted.

For a long time I wondered why. Much later I learned about “selective mutism,” a form of social anxiety that makes someone feel unable to speak in certain situations. Many people with selective mutism can talk freely at home with their families but remain silent in school or in public. And the way it shows up can be different for each person.

“Carla no habla” grew out of this awareness. It tells the story of a shy teenager who, overwhelmed by the challenge of making friends at a new school, suddenly finds herself unable to speak after a misunderstanding. That year, she meets Tatiana, a kind and intuitive classmate who helps her feel included until she can find her voice again.

While I never experienced selective mutism myself, the character of Tatiana was inspired by my real-life friend Tatiana Cantos, who, as a teenager, showed me an unexpected gesture of extraordinary thoughtfulness, reminding me that truly kind people exist.

This book is about empathy, about seeing and supporting someone who might otherwise be overlooked. It is also about hope, the reminder that with understanding, patience, and a little kindness, even the quietest voices can be heard.

“Carla no habla” is a graphic novel for level 1 Spanish learners.

📝 The Spanish expression of the week: “No llegar ni a los talones”
🔎 Meaning: To not even come close in ability, quality, or importance.
📌 Example: Ese jugador no le llega ni a los talones a Messi. (That player isn’t even close to Messi.)
This expression is common in countries like Ecuador 🇪🇨 and other Spanish-speaking regions.
🧐 Do you use it? How do you use it? 🌎 Where are you from? Share your example in the comments!
expresiónidiomática spanishidioms spanishidiom

📣 In case you didn’t know, ALMA DE LOBO has a collection of resources available for you!
This easy reader for Spanish learners (levels 2–3) tells the true story of Marcos, the only documented case of a feral child in Spain who grew up with wolves 🐺.
On the veromundo.store website, you’ll find the full movie, a chapter guide (courtesy of the amazing Spanish teacher Hillary Buckner), and additional videos about Marcos, the main character.
👉 Just head to the ALMA DE LOBO page and click on Resources to explore everything.