A House in My Barrio - Paola Santos

KLiC: What was your inspiration for A House in My Barrio?

PS: When I was 10 or 11 years old, there was a house near my school that I loved to visit. After school, I would open the gate to this tiny house, knowing that inside, I would be welcomed with warmth and greeted with open arms.

This story is a tribute to those who are the heart of their barrio, serving their communities through simple acts of love. But it is also a call to action to care for those who once looked after us and who, because of illness or old age, can no longer care for themselves. Can we give back the same love they gave us? 
 
KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book?

PS: For me, the writing process starts with a childhood memory. Then I write a loose draft, and finally I begin building the structure. With A House in My Barrio, though, I struggled to find the right structure and to express the message in a way that felt true to the story. Then, one day, the shadow lifted, and I could clearly see the heart of the story once more.
​
Writing the book took longer than I expected, a little more than a year! I had just sold How to Eat a Mango, and another manuscript wasn't selling at all. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to do it again! As a result, the writing process was somewhat painful: beautiful as a creative force, but as slow as fear could make it. In the end, though, everything worked out. While the writing took over a year, the submission process was incredibly fast. It took less than two days to receive an offer!

​KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations by Olivia Sua in the book ?

​PS: The first spread is my favorite! I believe Olivia’s illustrations truly capture the feeling of infinite love, care, and kindness. Olivia Sua brings the text to life with rich colors and incredible detail. I’m grateful for her work, and I’m sure readers will be effortlessly transported into the story of Mamá Elena and Manuel. 

KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book?

PS: That, despite what the news might show, we humans are capable of beautiful gestures and heroic acts, so I hope that when readers close the book, they will feel uplifted and inspired, knowing that building community and sharing love are in our own hands.
 
KLiC: What’s next for you? 
​
​PS: On June 1 of next year, my third picture book will be out in the world! Vida Dreams, illustrated by the incredibly talented and fellow Venezuelan Marianne Ferrer and published by Kids Can Press, is a story about the reasons behind immigration and the resilience that accompanies those decisions. It is a powerful story that I hope will touch the hearts of every reader.

Paola Santos is a children's book author born and raised in Venezuela. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Literature and Children's Literature and Reading Promotion. She is the author of How to Eat a Mango / Cómo se come un mango (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House), 2024, and A House in My Barrio (Henry Holt / Macmillan), 2026. She lives in Edmonton.