Meet Jolene Gutiérrez, September Guest Guru!

rateyourstoryweb
6 days ago
7 min read

CLICK HERE: https://amzn.to/3Unk704 and on any links to buy Jolene's books!

This month, we're helping to harvest one of your stories with feedback from our multi-published, award-winning picture book author and Rate Your Story Guru, Jolene Gutiérrez!

Up to four 2026 Members will have the opportunity to get a feedback and rating from her. Members can request Jolene as a Guru from Judy, Admin Assistant and In-box Coordinator (RateYourStory@gmail.com), and if there are available spots and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive the benefit.

Q: What did you love about being a child?

A: I grew up on a farm and I loved spending time with the animals and being in nature. I loved reading, writing, and drawing. I loved learning about history and other cultures. I still love all of those things!

Q: What brought you to children’s books?

A: I’ve been a teacher librarian for over 30 years, and I spend most of my days surrounded by books for young readers. There are times when I look for books to support my family, my students, or my lessons and don’t find them. That coupled with a love of writing led me to want to write for young readers.

Q: What do you love about children’s books?

A: I love children’s literature because it covers such a variety of topics in such an honest way. As a librarian, I base so many of my lessons around books that exist. I also recommend books for other teachers’ lessons, for class novels, as part of my readers’ advisory, and for bibliotherapy. I love that I can use picture books to teach lessons to my students from age 5 to 18+, I love that graphic novels are such a popular genre, that audio formats are vast, and I love that we are seeing more diverse stories. All readers deserve to see themselves, their families, and their experiences reflected in books.

Q: Share a little bit about your most recently-published book:

A: Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp was co-written with my friend Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights. Our story is based on Min’s real-life experiences and has been welcomed with five starred reviews.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, strength comes in the form of the small, smooth stone Min’s father gives him before being led away by FBI agents. In his absence, Min and his family do their best to keep their produce business afloat and earn enough support to get Min’s father released. But the FBI won't release his father, and soon, Min and his family are forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado.

Imprisoned on the dusty plains and facing both the pain of displacement and the injustice of being incarcerated by his own country, Min must learn to adapt and to find beauty―and strength―where most wouldn’t.

Q: Share how you drew upon your interests or experience to research/write your recent book:

A: I learned about the Amache Incarceration Camp from my grandmother when I was younger, and I was frustrated that I hadn’t learned about World War II Incarceration Camps in my history class at school. When I became a teacher librarian, I started teaching my students (and oftentimes, my coworkers) about Amache. In 2016, I decided I wanted to write about Amache and I started reaching out to survivors to do interviews. A friend introduced me to Minoru Tonai. As we talked, I realized how powerful Min’s story was, and I felt like young readers would connect emotionally with one main character who they could walk with, so I asked Min if he’d like to work together to tell his story. My work on this book allowed me to immerse myself in primary sources and dig deep into this hard history in order for us to share Min’s story in a way that young readers will connect with.

Q: What do you love about the genre of books you write in (please be specific)?

A: I write mostly picture books, but I’ve also written a few middle grade novels. I’ve written fiction and nonfiction as well. I love each of these types of writing, and while picture books are my go-to, I appreciate each genre and think that writing different types of books keeps me on my toes and gives me other projects to work on if I get stuck on a current piece. My favorite thing about writing for young readers is that I get to write a book that someone will (hopefully) connect with. Writing allows me to walk in my characters’ shoes and see the world as a child again through their eyes.

Q: What does a story need to make it a favorite for you?

A: I love stories with heart and emotion—stories that make me think or laugh or cry (or all three!). I want a story to change the way I look at the world and help me learn and grow as a human. I look for stories that make me think, “Everyone needs to read this!”

Q: Share a story that you love and why.

A: Because I’m a librarian and I love history and horses, Hope Rode (written by Lauren H. Kerstein and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander) holds a special place in my heart. I’ve long been fascinated by the history of packhorse librarians and have so much respect for their efforts to help bring books to all readers. Lauren’s lyrical writing tells this important story in a lovely way, and her back matter also helps extend learning and discussions.

Q: What is a common issue you see in the manuscripts you critique?

A: Being too didactic/telling too much. This is something I see in manuscripts I critique and something I’m guilty of in my own writing. Rather than trying to teach and preach, think about how you can put your readers into the scene and allow them to experience your story.

Q: Please share a Submission Tip with our Members.

A: There are so many layers to the work we do! After writing the best story you can (don’t rush it and seek out critique partners to give you advice), do some research to find who you might want to submit your work to. Look for interviews with the agent or editor you’re hoping to submit to, check out their #ManuscriptWishList, etc. If you feel that your work is a good fit for them, take the time to customize a query letter to them and follow whatever guidelines they’ve set regarding submissions. This is your chance to make a good first impression and show that you’ve done your homework and that you’re a respectful, easy person to work with.

Q: Please share a Revision Tip for our Members.

A: As you’re working on revisions, think about the “container” you’ve chosen for your story. I’ve tried writing different stories in various formats to see if another “container” is a better fit for the story. For example, with our book Unbreakable, Minoru and I tried it first as a middle grade nonfiction, then as a picture book, then as a graphic novel script, and finally, we came back to the picture book format once we found a strong throughline. But none of that writing was wasted—it all helped us find the perfect fit for our story.

Q: Name subjects you would like to read about.

A: I’d love to read stories with little-known history or powerful biographies. I appreciate stories about various types of families, food, celebrations, traditions, and experiences. Stories that allow kids to feel seen and to experience big feelings are wonderful, and I love learning new things, so any manuscripts with fascinating facts and interesting information is a plus.

Q: Name subjects you would not like to read about.

A: I’d rather not critique rhyming manuscripts. I’d also like to avoid stories that cover things like basic concepts (alphabet, counting, etc.) or common holidays unless they’re done in a unique, creative way.

Q: Share something you wish we had asked you about, but didn’t!

A: I’d love to share information about some of my upcoming books! In 2027, my picture book Party Panic: The Stressed Guest will be out in the world. It’s a companion book to my book Too Much! An Overwhelming Day and is brilliantly illustrated by Angel Chang.

Also in 2027, the Spanish version of the picture book The Ofrenda That We Built (written by my daughter Shaian Gutiérrez and me, illustrated by Gabby Zapata) will be released, translated by Ariela Rudy Zaltzman.

And a picture book called Party En La Plaza: A Community Celebration in English and Spanish, written by my husband Eduardo Gutiérrez and me, illustrated by Teresa Martínez, will be coming out in 2027 as well! I’d love for readers to ask their libraries to order copies, leave reviews, and/or recommend these stories to friends.

Q: Share a fun fact about YOU!

A: I’ve never broken a bone (fingers crossed that I didn’t just jinx myself).

Thanks so much for this opportunity to share with the RYS community!

BIO: Jolene Gutiérrez grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado, surrounded by animals, plants, and history. Now, she lives with her family and a variety of animals near Denver, where she is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will help others learn and grow in compassion. Her books have been printed in nine countries and eight languages and include the recipient of five starred reviews, Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (co-authored with Minoru Tonai); Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region, The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); and Too Much! An Overwhelming Day. Jolene is represented by agent Kaitlyn Sanchez.