Leonarda Carranza
BIO
Biography
Leonarda Carranza is the author of the award winning picture book Abuelita and Me/Abuelita y yo (illustrated by Rafael Mayani). Abuelita and Me won a gold medal at the 2022 International Latino Book Awards, and was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. Her most recent picture books Fighting Words (Sept, 2024) and The Friendship Blanket (July 2025) are both illustrated by Erika Medina.
Leonarda was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and currently resides in Brampton, Ontario, Treaty 19. She holds a PhD in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto. She is the winner of Briarpatch Magazine’s Writing in the Margins contest and Room’s 2018 short forms contest.
She’s currently working on a spooky middle grade story.
ADDRESS
City: Brampton,
Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
c/o TWUC
GENRE
Children's Book Author
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Abuelita and Me
Publisher
Annick Press
Year
2022
Title
Fighting Words
Publisher
Annick Press
Year
2024
Title
The Friendship Blanket
Publisher
Scholastic Canada
Year
2025
AWARDS
Awards
Name
International Latino Book Award
Publication
Abuelita and Me
Year
2022
LINKS
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Members who identify as:
Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
Yes
