Lupita's Brown Ballet Slippers

Everyone deserves to shine.

Lupita's big ballet recital is approaching. The music is perfect. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don't match her skin tone. Lupita searches for the right pair only to discover it will take hard work--and messy measures--in order for her shoes to dance with her.

Inspired by the author's own experiences as a Latina dancer, Lupita's Brown Ballet Slippers is a charming story filled with determination. The final few spreads teach readers about the history of ballet slippers as well as the crucial changes the industry has seen for dancers of all races and ethnicities.

Steena Hernandez holds a BFA in theatre, music, and dance from Texas Tech University, and has performed with the Rent Broadway tour, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a vocalist, and the United Service Organization (USO) tour, and more. She now resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her family. She's a storyteller at heart, and when she's not writing or cooking, you can find her curled up in a cozy spot reading with her two children.

Melissa Castillo's work is heavily inspired by her Peruvian culture and heritage. With the lack of diverse representation of Latinx culture in illustration, she hopes to properly represent people of color and create relatable art for all cultures.