Alexandra Alessandri is the author of Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! (Albert Whitman), which won a silver medal in the 2020 Florida Book Awards, and the forthcoming Isabel and Her Colores Go to School (Sleeping Bear Press). The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is also an Associate Professor of English at Broward College and a poet, with some of her work appearing in The Acentos Review, Rio Grande Review, Atlanta Review, and Young Adult Review Network. She received her BA and MA degrees in English from Florida International University and a Certificate in Fiction Writing from UCLA Extension. When not writing or teaching, Alexandra spends her time daydreaming, relearning the piano, and planning the next great adventure with her family. She lives in Florida with her husband, son, and hairless pup, dreaming of Colombia. Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda, is about a shy little girl, Ava Gabriela, who is visiting her extended family in Colombia for the holidays. She’s excited to take part in family traditions, such as making buñuelos and saying goodbye to el Año Viejo, but being around all her loud relatives in an unfamiliar place makes Ava shy and quiet. How will she find her voice before she misses out on all the New Year’s fun? Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! is an ode to Alexandra’s culture and to shy kids everywhere. School Library Journal praised the book, saying “This warm #OwnVoices look at Colombian traditions is both universal and deeply personal...Sonda's charming illustrations portray an idyllic finca…[and] The language is just as atmospheric.” Booklist called the illustrations “vibrant,” while Kirkus Reviews awarded the book a starred review, saying, “This gentle family story lets readers know that shyness is nothing to worry about.” Social Media accounts: Twitter: https://twitter.com/apalessandri Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apalessandri/