Many children grow up believing they have to fit in to matter. 
The quiet ones. The different ones. The ones who don’t match expectations… can feel invisible. 
But heroes don’t start by fitting in 
They start by standing out. 
Baseball trailblazer Fernando Valenzuela changed the game not by becoming someone else—but by showing up fully as himself, sparking pride across the Latino community and bringing people together far beyond the game. 
And so, inspired by the life and legacy of this Dodgers legend, a field-side storyteller and acclaimed artist are bringing Fernando’s story to life—showing children everywhere that when they step into who they truly are, they don’t just find their place… they light up the world. 
Journalist and Children’s Author, Nathalie Alonso, and Award-Winning, Best-Selling Children’s Book Author & Illustrator, John Parra, join our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest on Episode #266 of PR From The Heart’s Children’s Books Spotlight Series to share the release of their new book ¡Viva Valenzuela!: Fernandomania Erupts in Los Angeles (published by Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers), how their shared baseball fandom inspired them to bring Fernando’s empowering story into the spotlight, how Fernando’s journey on and off the field inspires unity and resilience in today’s culture and political climate, ways families can use storytelling to spark meaningful conversations and teach children to keep cherished memories alive, a sneak preview of John’s highly anticipated book board debut, My Animalitos: A Frida Kahlo Story (written by Monica Brown | published by NorthSouth Books) and a look inside Nathalie’s middle-grade Hispanic Star Series (published by MacKids Books) and her first historical fiction picture book, Andy and the Tri-Cornered Baseball Game (published by Charlesbridge)—plus much more. 
We encourage you, our friends and neighbors, to support Nathalie and John by getting your copies of ¡Viva Valenzuela! and enjoying this empowering read with your little ones: https://bit.ly/40wFAn5.
¡Viva Valenzuela!: Fernandomania Erupts in Los Angeles Text copyright © 2026 by Nathalie Alonso • Illustrations copyright © 2026 by John Parra. Used with permission. Published by Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved. As PR From The Heart has grown and evolved alongside John and Nathalie over the years, we invite you to enjoy their previous trolley stops on The Children’s Books Spotlight Series, where they discuss several of their other acclaimed books:
Episode #150 | Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son: https://bit.ly/3rAwWFM
Episode #179 | Spanish is the Language of My Family: https://bit.ly/4ezE61r
Episode #222 | Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos: https://bit.ly/4cRE3zg
Stay connected with Nathalie online and on social media:
Official Website: https://bit.ly/4sfnHp7
Twitter: https://bit.ly/4sN1tdN
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3NuGr4B
Stay connected with John online and on social media:
Official Website: https://bit.ly/3xqh1KM
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3xhxSyd
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Q9ny3V
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3x8BAKi3
