Step into the magic of the forest with author Joeanally Gonzalez, who received a 2026-2027 Milagro Artist Fund grant to support this bilingual (Spanish & English) family-friendly celebration marking the dual-language release of her new bilingual children’s book, Nico the Banana Slug. Kicking off with a brief introduction, Gonzalez shares the heart behind the story, her love for our local ecosystem, and the inspiration behind the art. Attendees then watch the pages come to life in a dynamic, bilingual puppet show packed with interactive, dual-language fun for all fluency levels. The excitement continues with a hands-on creative workshop. While kids craft their very own paper puppets, parents can meet the author, chat about forest stewardship, and purchase personalized, signed copies of her book.
Joeanally González is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and cultural worker based in East Portland. Holding a BFA from the Puerto Rico School of Fine Arts and a Fashion Design Certificate from Centro Moda Lisa Thon, her career spans Puerto Rican theater, costume design at Walt Disney World®, and authoring the bilingual children’s book, Nico the Banana Slug. Since 2017, she has led vital bilingual community workshops across Oregon. Recognized with honors like RACC Grants, Joeanally’s vibrant exhibitions celebrate immigrant stories and ecological resilience, seamlessly bridging professional design with grass-roots activism.
Running time: 2 hours
Age recommendation: All ages (especially young audiences)
