Dr. Alma Flor Ada is the award-winning author of more than 200 books for children. She is also a poet, storyteller, educator, mother, and grandmother. With a Ph.D. in literature and a lifelong love for stories, Alma Flor has mastered the art of retelling traditional folktales and nursery rhymes from across Latin America. A native of Cuba who has also lived in Spain, Peru, and the United States, Alma Flor writes poetry, picture books, and novels that offer rich, multicultural perspectives for all children.

Alma Flor Ada grew up with her extended family in a big house on the outskirts of Camagüey, Cuba. As a young girl, she loved to read, play outside on the farm, and listen to her mother sing old ballads at bedtime. Alma Flor’s grandmother used to recite poetry and tell her traditional folktales. After studying English and attending bilingual schools, Alma Flor earned a scholarship to a college in the United States at the age of 17. For many years, Alma Flor followed her academic interests around the globe. In Spain, she earned a degree in Hispanic Studies. In Peru, she received a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature. After conducting post-doctoral research at Harvard University, Alma Flor became a professor at the University of San Francisco, where she directed the Center for Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. Over the years, Alma Flor has been an influential leader in the field of bilingual education in the United States.