Mariana Ríos Ramírez, a children’s author from Toluca, Mexico, and currently an Anderson, South Carolina, resident, spoke to students at a Hispanic Heritage Month event at Anderson University about her children’s book Santiago’s Dinosaurios, which tells the story of a boy who is new to the United States and doesn’t speak English but found out that his interest in dinosaurs crossed over language barriers with his classmates.
Helping her children learn a new language and adjust to a new culture influenced Ramirez to become a writer. She talked about her book and shared her own family’s experiences of adjusting to American culture and life, adopting new traditions while keeping theirs. In her writing, Ramirez also seeks to convey the values of friendship, family, inclusion/diversity, kindness, perseverance, loving yourself and building community.
Ramirez spoke at the Anderson University campus September 22.
Santiago’s Dinosaurios is the first picture book Ramirez published. Ramirez was a high school teacher and co-owned an online business before becoming a children’s book author. Her book is available through Amazon and other major booksellers.