Fern Boy
A children’s book written by Nasha Minoo Katrack and illustrated by John Jairo Valencia.
This children’s book (for ALL ages) is about self-discovery and plant ally-ship. Through Fernboy’s journey we see that we can find ourselves through nature, and we can look to nature for guidance on how to create social change all whilst cultivating a reciprocal relationship between ourselves and mama Earth.
As Adrienne Maree Brown says, "Ferns and their fractal patterns are the inspiration to look for small-scale solutions that propagate outward and impact the whole environment.” Fernboy’s journey takes us through apathy, longing, urgency, joy and acceptance. It aims to encourage us to feel all of our feelings no matter how uncomfortable.
the most spectacular mistake
“the most spectacular mistake is a love story to herself, her roots, and the sacred ritual of chanting the past to heal into the present. It is a testament of the connection between the core of the body, the heart and spirit. Vallez undoes the entanglements of life and the ancestors she carries in her palms while weaving together traditional offerings through words. A lyrical altar reclaiming her existence and triumphs.”
Written by Anatalia Vallez and illustrated by John Jairo Valencia.
Read this article published by the LA Times blog about Anatalia’s book.