Meet Our November Guest Guru: Jolene Gutiérrez
Every month, Rate Your Story features one Guest Guru who will give Ratings and Feedback to each of four lucky Members! Those who want to be considered for this opportunity should read this article, consider its contents when choosing your manuscript, submit early in the month and be sure to request consideration for a Guest Guru Slot from Judy, our Inbox Coordinator.
To really learn about Jolene, please consider buying one of her books here: https://amzn.to/4cGxdZP
What do you LOVE about children’s books?
I love that children’s books don’t shy away from anything, and I know how important that is—I’m a school librarian for ages 7 to 18 and I’m so grateful that if a student is experiencing something that they need support around, there’s a book I can put in their hands. And for my teaching purposes, I use a lot of picture books to kick off lessons. I love that picture books are such rich, robust teaching tools. I love that more and more readers are seeing their experiences represented in children’s books, and I love that genres like graphic novels and audiobooks are growing because they’re such powerful resources for all students, but my neurodivergent students really love them.
What brought you to children’s books?
My mom read to me when I was little—she read so much that I thought I could read, but I just had the stories memorized. She continued to support me by taking me to libraries and my dad bought me pretty much every book I asked for, so my parents brought me to children’s books and then I never left. I’ve been a teacher librarian for almost 30 years and love writing children’s books as well.
Name something you loved/enjoyed as a child?
I’ve always loved learning about history and heritage. I craved family stories and loved looking at my grandparents’ photos. As I grew older, I felt a need to preserve stories and pass on traditions. My most recent book, The Ofrenda That We Built, was coauthored with my daughter Shaian as a way of sharing our traditions when we celebrate Día de Muertos and create an ofrenda in our house, and my upcoming book (available January 7, 2025), Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band, was coauthored with my son Dakota in order to share a story that touches on the rich history of mariachi and the power of an all-female mariachi band.
What do you look for in a project to make it a favorite?
Whether a project is something I’m writing or something I’m teaching in my library classes, it has to tell a story I believe we need to see in the world—something that will help readers feel seen and/or help them learn and grow. It needs to be beautifully written, have heart, and be something I won’t get bored with as I’m researching, writing, and editing it or as I’m teaching it in class after class.
Share a story that you love and why.
I love Anita Yasuda’s and Yuko Shimizu’s Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains because it’s masterfully written, beautifully illustrated, and is the story of a strong woman who follows her dreams and, in doing so, makes the world a better place.
What is a common issue in manuscripts that don’t work.
For authors who aren’t illustrators (including myself), sometimes we forget to leave space for illustrations. Read through your story with that in mind. What descriptive words could you leave out to tighten your manuscript?
Please share a Submission tip with our Members.
Make sure you’ve read your story out loud before submitting. Your picture book text is meant to be read aloud, so don’t submit it to others until you’ve read it out loud numerous times. Even with all your changes with edits and input from critique partners, an audible read-through might make you hear things in a new way.
Please share a Revision Tip for our Members.
Even if you’re not an artist, dummy out your manuscript with the text you think you’ll have on each page and little stick figure drawings. Are your page turns as powerful as possible? Is your writing flowing? Are you leaving space for an illustrator? What might you tighten/change?
Name subjects you would like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box.
I love sharing (and writing) stories of history and heritage! I love food-themed stories, stories about traditions, and stories about feelings and navigating the world.
Name subjects you would not like to read about, or, if you are an Editor or an Agent, see in your in-box.
I love reading rhyme and I’ve even written it a few times, but I’m not the best critiquer for rhyming manuscripts.
Share a fun fact about YOU!
My parents hated their own middle names (Lula for my mom and Keith for my dad), so they didn’t give me a middle name. When people ask what my middle name is and I say I don’t have one, most people say, “Yes, you do—you probably just hate your middle name!”
Also is there anything in particular you want or don't want to give rating and
feedback on? As mentioned above, I’m not the best critiquer for rhyming manuscripts.
BIO: Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy 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 10 countries and 9 languages. Jolene is an active member of SCBWI, part of the KidLitCollective group, and a co-creator of #KidlitZombieWeek and Picture Book Gold. Jolene is represented by agent Kaitlyn Sanchez and is the author of Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (Abrams Childrens, 2026, co-authored with Minoru Tonai), Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (Abrams/Appleseed, 2025, co-authored with her son Dakota), The Ofrenda That We Built (Chronicle, 2024, co-authored with her daughter Shaian), Too Much! An Overwhelming Day (Abrams/Appleseed, 2023), the Stars of Latin Pop series (Rourke, 2021), Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks (Lerner, 2020), and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader (Clear Fork/Spork, 2020). Find her online at www.jolenegutierrez.com.
BUY JOLENE'S BOOKS HERE.
Website: jolenegutierrez.com
Facebook: facebook.com/writerjolene
Instagram: instagram.com/writerjolene
Twitter/X: twitter.com/writerjolene
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/writerjolene/
You have the best of both worlds being a librarian AND and author! Thanks for sharing your valuable insight.
I'm like your parents, Jolene. I hate my middle name so I didn't give my daughter one! I always told her she could pick her own when she grew up. SHe never bothered! 🤣
What an interesting back story! Thanks for helping RYS this month1