Hi, I’m Andrea Olatunji, and I write books to inspire and empower children—especially the ones sitting in our Spanish classrooms, waiting to feel seen. I’m originally from Uruguay, lived in the United States for twenty years, and now call the Dominican Republic home. I’ve been teaching Spanish for almost two decades, from Kindergarten all the way to college. And through all those years, levels, and classrooms, I discovered something simple and powerful: everyone—without exception—loves a good story. ​As a Spanish teacher, I’ve used stories to engage and entertain, to teach language and highlight culture, to heal, connect, and validate my students’ experiences. But like so many of you, I struggled to find the right stories. I wanted books in Spanish that truly represented our beautiful Hispanic cultures. I wanted stories where my students could see themselves reflected—stories that were thoughtfully written, beautifully illustrated, and carried meaningful messages. ​Those books were hard to find. ​So I decided to create them. ​I began the journey of writing and illustrating my own books, designing each illustration by hand using paper collage. Every story I create is rooted in the classroom, shaped by years of teaching, and inspired by the real needs of teachers and students. ​I see you. I know how hard you work, how much you care, and how deeply you want your students to connect—not just to the language, but to themselves and their cultures. My goal is to support fellow Spanish teachers by giving you stories you can feel proud to share and excited to teach. I’m a teacher at heart, a passionate storyteller, and a firm believer in the power of stories to transform learning.