New children's book, The Life of/La Vida de Selena, celebrates the legacy of late Tex Mex Queen Selena Quintanilla. Here are all the details, including where to buy it!
By Lena Hansen
The wait is over! The buzz-worthy children’s book based on the life of late Tex Mex Queen Selena Quintanilla is now for sale. Back in November, when its publisher Lil’ Libros shared the first social media post about the upcoming book release, The Life of/La Vida de Selena reached number one on three Amazon charts, including the “Libros en Español” list, kicking Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone from the top spot. The book is now one of the online retailer’s top five best sellers of the day (on the chart dated March 15).
“This is our way of saying thank you, Selena. Thank you for your music, energy, and love. The love you had for us – your community. But most importantly thank you for allowing us to dream just like you did. This is how we can thank you,” Lil’ Libros’ captioned an Instagram post about the book in November. “By never forgetting you; by sharing your smile, music, and life with our children. By reminding them that you were us. That you loved and sang in two languages. That wherever you went you were proud of who you were and where you came from. By keeping you part of our family just like our parents did when you were here. This is for you. Thank you.”
The bedtime story focuses on the Mexican American star’s early years, when she first began fronting her family’s band, Selena y Los Dinos, which was started by her father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. and included sister Suzetteand brother Abraham. The children’s book also chronicles her inspiring journey to international stardom and her love of Mexican culture and familia. Showcasing beautiful illustrations by Citlali Reyes, the work is filled with fun facts about Selena. (Her favorite food was pizza!)
The publishing company was founded in 2014 by mompreneurs Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, who co-author the stories. They joined forces after realizing the children’s book market had too few bilingual options for first concept books. The Lil’ Libros Collection also includes children’s stories on painter Frida Kahlo, singer Celia Cruz and comedian Mario Moreno ‘Cantinflas,’ among others Latino icons.
Lil’ Libros shared an Instagram post on March 12 with the caption: “Tonight is the night. When the clock strikes 12, LilLibros.com.” Selena Quintanilla fans can now buy the book on their website or Amazon.
