Meet Andrea Olatunji | Award-winning children’s books author & educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Olatunji and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, how does your business help the community?
Cuentacuento aims to diversify children’s books so that kids can see themselves reflected in the stories they read. This is important as it validates and empowers them to be who they are. At the same time, Cuentacuento books help children learn about other worlds they might not be familiar with. This will enable kids to grow more globally aware, empathic, and empowered.

This is why Cuentacuento Books was born. As a mom and teacher, I have always relied on storytelling to start conversations about things that make children curious, worried, or excited. My books have many different layers. They can teach a language (Spanish), they can introduce children to Latin American fauna (especially species that are endangered), and they can teach important values such as an appreciation for diversity or finding your unique talent.

Since I started my business three years ago, my books have become a resource for other parents and educators, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where they found themselves at home struggling with teaching and parenting. I have been very busy creating educator’s guides to accompany the books, visiting children’s hospitals and schools to share my stories, and helping teachers adopt storytelling as a valuable tool to teach content.

I hope to be able to continue to use my stories to inspire others to be more understanding and respectful to other cultures and to our planet as a whole.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Even though I did not attend art school, I have always been an artist. Drawing, painting, and writing have always been part of who I am and a channel to express my feelings. As a child, I was very shy, so art was my escape from others, from situations, from myself. I wanted to pursue a career in art but in my small native Uruguay, that was challenging. Thus, I found myself teaching, and I did so for twenty plus years without regret.

Yet, put me in an art exhibition or in front of a bunch of colored pencils and I glow. So, three years ago, when I decided to publish my first children’s book, it all came together. I could write, illustrate, and teach all in one!

I decided to do my own illustrations using a mixed media of collage and pencil. I got inspired by the “mola” art of the native women of Panama, and off I went to cut and draw and see what happened. Suddenly, I was in my element, or as psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi named it, I was in flow.

My illustrations, like my stories, have many depths, many layers. I aim to provoke children (and adults, why not?) to observe, to look closely, and wonder. I love it when I visit schools and children stop me before I start reading and ask me: “Wait, did you do the illustrations?, Is that paper you used? I can see the wrinkles in the paper!, etc. In today’s digitized world, I want to play with a hand made, crafty look for my stories. I find them richer and more intriguing this way.

As I always say, I am a perpetual learner, and so is my brand. Always growing, always learning, open to feedback, proud of every step.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the north coast of the Dominican Republic, a living paradise. I would allow my friend to soak in the culture and the vibe first. Slow down. Let each day take you by surprise. The big questions would be: which is the best beach for a sunrise/ for a sunset? Which is the best beach for surfing/ relaxing? We would do breakfast in my house (yep. I make the best coffee). We would eat lunch by the water and dinner in the mountains enjoying the cool breeze. We would learn about the Taino culture which is still very present in the island, buy some fresh mangoes and papayas from a street vendor, and try some of the best mojitos in the world. We would take a ride to Sto. Domingo to visit Zona Colonial, the first Spanish establishment in the Americas. Finally, we would do a nice hike to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean.
This is an itinerary to my present home town. I also call my home town Montevideo and New Orleans, but those deserve their own chapters 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to Mi Libro Hispano. This is a non-profit organization based in Miami, FL that aims to help Latino authors in the process of publishing and promoting our books. Nobody does anything alone. When I published my first book, I had no idea what was involved. Many other authors within and outside of Mi Libro Hispano have been crucial in the success of my journey. Whether by lending a second pair of eyes to review a draft, serving as a sounding board for a new idea, or simply cheering you up on those days when you want to quit. My author community has been invaluable. So cheers to them!

Website: https://www.cuentacuento.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AndreaOlatunji

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-olatunji/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/andreaolatunji

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaOlatunjiBooks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreaOlatunji