GARCIA, Yolanda P. 1952–

(Yolanda Pacheco Garcia)

PERSONAL:

Born August 9, 1952, in Redwood City, CA; daughter of Marcelino B. and Mary B. Pacheco. Ethnicity: "Mexican-American." Education: Canada College, A.A., 1972; College of Notre Dame, B.A., 1994, teacher credential, 1997. Hobbies and other interests: Children's books, arts and crafts, music, dance.

ADDRESSES:

Home and Office—Victory Publishing, 2221 Hopkins Ave., Redwood City, CA 94062. E-mail—vyva@aol.com.

CAREER:

Bilingual teacher in Redwood City, CA, 1996—, currently at Adelante Spanish Immersion School. Victory Publishing, publisher and writer.

MEMBER:

National Teachers Association, California Teachers Association, Children's Writers Market, Small Publishers Group, CSEA.

WRITINGS:

(Editor and contributor) Español divertido: guía completo para enseñar español con poesías, rimas, trabalenguas, dichos, días festivos, juegos y proyectos artísticos/Spanish Fun (bilingual poetry for children, riddles, and folklore), Victory Publishing (Redwood City, CA), 1986, 3rd edition, 2005.

Celebremos con números (juvenile; title means "Celebrate with Numbers"), Victory Publishing (Redwood City, CA), 1988, 2nd edition, 2005.

Antología de poesía primaveral (poetry for children), Victory Publishing (Redwood City, CA), 1989, 2nd edition, 2005.

Vocalitos (children's language activity book), Victory Publishing (Redwood City, CA), 1990, 2nd edition, 2005.

Lost and Found: Love (poetry for adults), Victory Publishing (Redwood City, CA), 2006.

Contributor to periodicals.

SIDELIGHTS:

Yolanda P. Garcia believes her books are useful tools for children of Latin descent because of their emphasis on diversity and bilingualism. She pursued her writing initially as a way of emphasizing culture and language to her bilingual students, but she also feels that English-speaking children studying Spanish can benefit and learn much faster if they have fun while doing so. Victory Publishing is the result of Garcia's background, interests, and experience.

Garcia told CA: "My latest collection of poetry reveals my romantic side. Lost and Found: Love shows the volatility of relationships."