Cover Spotlight Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla

PB Debut Troupe 21 is thrilled to share the cover of SING WITH ME: THE STORY OF SELENA QUINTANILLA (Dial Books), which publishes July 6, 2021.

Radiant and sparkling, this beautiful cover celebrates the magnetic personality and inspiring life of Selena Quintanilla, beloved Queen of Tejano music. Join us in congratulating Troupe member Diana López on the lovely look of her debut picture book, SING WITH ME: THE STORY OF SELENA QUINTANILLA, illustrated by Teresa Martínez.

Check out it out!

Diana revealed the cover of SING WITH ME: THE STORY OF SELENA QUINTANILLA on Latinxs in Kid Lit. Be sure to visit (click here) and read the excellent post, which also features Teresa Martínez’s inspiration for the cover. Here it is in Spanish!

Now, let’s hear more about SING WITH ME: THE STORY OF SELENA QUINTANILLA from Troupe member Diana López!

SING WITH ME: THE STORY OF SELENA QUINTANILLA is a picture book biography of the Tejano Music Queen. Illustrator, Teresa Martínez, does a wonderful job of showing how Selena changes as she grows up, a journey that’s artistically captured in the way the first and last pages mirror each other—Selena as a young girl singing at home, then as a young woman singing in the Astrodome.

I wrote this book to honor someone from my hometown of Corpus Christi, so even though it’s about Selena, it’s also about a place. Readers will get glimpses of local landmarks, Tejano fashion, and hints of other South Texas towns. But they’ll also get a better understanding of living near the U.S. and Mexico border.

Selena had to learn Spanish, and I love how Teresa portrayed both Selena’s desire and hard work as she studies through the night. I’m happy to announce that the book will be simultaneously published in English and Spanish with award-winning author, Carmen Tafolla, as translator.

For the cover, Teresa chose Selena’s most famous concert. It’s a celebratory image. Selena’s love of fashion, of music, and of her fellow Tejanos shines through. She often called out, “Todo el mundo,” when inviting others to sing along, and so I hope young readers will sing together and read together when they open this book.

Want to support Diana and her debut book? Let us count the ways…