I grew up surrounded by books…
In the early 90s, Zeco Montes, my godfather, founded a bookstore called Klaxon, named after the avant-garde visual art and literary magazine that circulated from 1922 until 1923 in Brazil. Later, my mom, Denise, and aunts, Silvia and Marta, became partners in this venture, a literary oasis in the city of São Paulo. I remember the atmosphere of this space so vividly. That abiding smell of paper. Regulars coming in looking for a recommendation, a moment of connection, a little bit of both. The place next door where my sisters and I would venture solo with a handful of change to buy an afternoon snack of pão de queijo.
Needless to say, our home was an extension of this bookstore, and our shelves filled with literature and poetry. No matter how long a particular day felt, or the relentless traffic on the way home, my mom always found that sliver of energy to read to us before bed. This ritual went on for years and extended beyond picture books.
Her gift, a love of poetry…
As a teenager, my mom introduced me to the Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, and publisher, Fernando Pessoa. I was particularly enamoured with his free verse poetry written under the heteronym Alberto Caeiro. She reads poetry with such warmth, her voice dancing through the rhythm and cadence of each line—it was through her that I first learned how spoken words could turn into music.
O meu olhar é nítido como um girassol.
Tenho o costume de andar pelas estradas
Olhando para a direita e para a esquerda,
E de vez em quando olhando para trás...
E o que vejo a cada momento
É aquilo que nunca antes eu tinha visto,
E eu sei dar por isso muito bem...
Sei ter o pasmo essencial
Que tem uma criança se, ao nascer,
Reparasse que nascera deveras...
Sinto-me nascido a cada momento
Para a eterna novidade do Mundo...
— “O Guardador de Rebanhos” Poemas de Alberto Caeiro, 1914.
During my 20s, I lived in Vancouver, studied anthropology, volunteered at community gardens and became a mother to Georgia Brown... A Taurus, born in the year of the Dragon. Motherhood brought me back to the textures of my own childhood— the intimacy of those bookshelves, the experience of being read to… The way books fed my curiosities and dreams.
I began my journey in publishing through an internship with Michael and Carol Katz at Tradewind Books, a small Canadian publishing house committed to multicultural children’s titles. I worked alongside Michael both at the publishing house and as a teacher assistant for his Children’s Book Workshop at the University of British Columbia. This was a comprehensive journey of all the steps involved in publishing children’s literature. From manuscript reviews to book launches, I left with a deep belief that picture books are an art form and a portal. One rainy afternoon, on my walk home from Granville Island, I stoped by a used bookstore and found a copy of a childhood favorite, The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood. Suddenly, I remembered what it felt like to be read to, feeling completely and wholly immersed in a story, laughing out loud. As I continued on my way home, with this book in hand, I started envisioning what became the bedrock of one of my favorite rituals as a parent, Georgia’s collection of kids books.
For our baby shower, I asked friends & family to share a picture book, instead of the usual stacks of clothing and diapers. From this simple prompt, ensued an inspiring and profound exchange. People took our request to heart. They dived into childhood memories and sought out to gather their favorite picture books. On a Spring afternoon, we all sat around an improvised circle in our small one bedroom apartment in Vancouver. Everyone took turns sharing the memories behind their book of choice, a particular element of the story that resonated with their young minds, the person who read to them... As Georgia grew, she’s been wrapped in those stories, each and every night—stories that carry a message of love, a window into the lives of those that came before her. The beauty of this exchange culminated in a year long endeavour writing a personal blog about children’s literature, One More Story Told. That space became a “kitchen table creative outlet while the baby naps” and a way of feeling less isolated, more connected to the world. Many moves later, including relocating to a different country, I continue to be inspired by the affective energy these books carry. This brings us to the present moment. I find myself living through profound changes, those moments when the earth underneath our feet shakes and pushes us to embrace transformation. I started listening to the voice inside of me, trying to rekindle that inner fire, the desire to engage with work that feels meaningful, to create a day to day that makes my heart skip, and that’s how I decided to revive this project.
Mama Reads is a platform and consultancy designed to connect authors, illustrators, publishers, educators, and communities at large, in the shared mission of creating conscious, expansive, and inclusive literacy experiences for children—especially those aged 3–10. Through book reviews, creative writing, live events, storytelling sessions, and consulting services, I aim to help amplify diverse voices towards an emotionally resonant & conscious literary landscape for the next generation.
I believe storytelling is both art and activism. And that a single picture book can change the way a child sees the world—and their sense of belonging in it. I divide my time between San Miguel de Allende and Vancouver, moving about between the high desert in Central Mexico and the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. A contrast that feeds my senses, keeps my mind in a state of perpetual awe and opens up possibilities for cross-cultural connections. I bring a community-oriented approach to every project I take on, whether it's research, consulting, or creative work. The children of today are ready to expand their identities, to question everything, to re-imagine the way we live. Let picture books inspire connection and strengthen this transformation.