Gabby Zapata

Today and tomorrow we are celebrating Dia De los Muertos or
Day of the Dead, with THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT
written by @writerjolene.bsky.social and Shaian Gutierrez with art by @gabbyzapata.bsky.social.
This holiday honors the lives of the deceased.
#DiaDeLosMuertos
#dayofthedead #picturebook

¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! — Happy Day of the Dead!🕯️🏵️

Let's celebrate today with The Ofrenda That We Built, written by @writerjolene.bsky.social & Shaian Gutiérrez, with illustrations by @gabbyzapata.bsky.social🧡

Available here: smarturl.it/TheOfrendaThatWeBuilt

So much joy seeing mom have fun making these. It has helped so much with keeping her brain & motor skills healthy and she’s happy again! All sales in this collection goes towards her future dementia care shopgabbyzapata.com if you happen to buy, share a pic! I’d love to create a collage & show her!

I haven’t been up to date on here. But I open my shop at 10am for nonsubscribers (free yes!) new goodies and a new collection to help my mom’s future dementia care ♡
Shopgabbyzapata.Com

Thanks for sharing!! 💕

Gabby Zapata Shop Gabby Zapata Shop

@gabbyzapata.bsky.social shop is now open for newsletter subscribers (free). 10 AM PST for general public. Mini art prints, stickers, and "blind bag" bag charms!
shopgabbyzapata.com/collections/...

My Barrio Sings in Spanglish Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to My Barrio Sings in Spanglish by Mónica Mancillas (l.), illustrated by Gabby Zapata. This picture book follows Liliana who loves to sing along to the natural music and movement of her Los Angeles barrio. Publication is set for fall 2027; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong Press represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Patriots of Color at Lexington and Concord Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The Forgotten: Patriots of Color at Lexington and Concord by Ray Anthony Shepard (Runaway; A Long Time Coming), illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, an historical fiction picture book that gives voice to the Black and Brown men and women who participated in the events at Lexington and Concord in the first battles of the American Revolution. Publication is planned for 2027; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself. Baby Truck Wendy McClure at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has bought world rights to Baby Truck by JD Davis (l.), illustrated by Erica Sirotich, first in a board book series about an infant truck whose days are filled with exciting activities and fun routines as he learns how to be a big boy truck. Publication is set for fall 2026; Jennifer Newens at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator in the three-book deal. Harry the Hairiest Olivia Luchini at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Harry the Hairiest by Laurenne Sala (l.), illustrated by Isabella Kung. The picture book follows a furry monster named Harry who longs to be appreciated for things other than his hair. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Kelly Sonnack and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and illustr

My Barrio Sings in Spanglish illustrated by @gabbyzapata.bsky.social

Patriots of Color at Lexington and Concord by Ray Anthony Shepard

Baby Truck @ericasirotich.bsky.social

Harry the Hairiest Laurenne Sala @isabellakung.bsky.social

The amount of hours of time wasted dealing with health insurance is so incomprehensible to me. I shouldn’t have to jump through so many hoops in order to get something authorized that’s medically necessary 🙃

❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you!!!

book cover of THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT illustrated by Gabby Zapata

Congratulations to @gabbyzapata.bsky.social, whose book THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT won an award for Excellence in Picture Book Artistry from the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California.

Woohoooo!!
@ksonnack.bsky.social @andreabrownlit.bsky.social

Cover of a picture book entitled "How to Speak in Spanglish", featuring a little boy and his Abuela, against a yellow background. Caption reads, "If you liked 'How to Speak in Spanglish', then you'll love. . .'"

Caption reads, "MY BARRIO SINGS IN SPANGLISH, coming in 2027". Below is the Publisher's Marketplace announcement, which reads, "Monica Mancillas's MY BARRIO SINGS IN SPANGLISH, a standalone companion to HOW TO SPEAK IN SPANGLISH, following a girl who loves to sing along to the natural music and movement of her Los Angeles barrio, illustrated by Gabby Zapata, to Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2027, by Melissa Edwards at Stonesong for the author, and by Kelly Sonmack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world)." Below the announcement are headshots of the author and illustrator.

I'm so excited to announce that I will be bringing another Spanglish book baby into the world! If you liked How to Speak in Spanglish, then you will love MY BARRIO SINGS IN SPANGLISH. So excited that @gabbyzapata.bsky.social will be illustrating this book of my ❤️, a love letter to L.A. #kidlit

My next picture book illustration is announced! I'm so excited to share I'll be illustrating "MY BARRIO SPEAKS IN SPANGLISH" by the amazing @monicamancillas.bsky.social !! Born in Los Angeles, I'm so excited to share this love letter to LA. Coming to a bookstore near you in 2027! ❤️ #kidlitart

Thank you! We’ve been struggling for some time but we’re thankful for her neuro and some social media caregivers that have shared many tips to making her enjoy things again. I can’t wait to share em too! I appreciate it! 🤗💕

Colorful bag chain charms

Here’s more she made yesterday- I’m fascinated by her color combinations and it makes me happy to see she’s having fun again 💕 I help start the string and closing it. Other than that, she threads and picks whichever beads she likes 🤗 coming to my shop mid Oct- here’s hoping! We have made about 50!

Purse charm made with colorful beads

I’ve been working on reopening my shop for holidays. And I finally found a fun activity for my mom and she has been helping me make these purse charms. She has early onset Alzheimer’s and seeing her find joy in this makes me extremely happy. The funds from these will go towards her future care 💕

Oops it’s #kidlitartpostcard tag. Missed a word! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Kidlit postcard art. Little girl on a bicycle going across the park

The ofrenda that we built book picture with a selfie

Cinderella a dream is a wish your heart makes little golden book

You be teacher, book cover

Happy #kidlitpostcard day! I’ve illustrated 3 books so far and I’m open to more books! Info below 😊!

Thank you so much 💛💛💛

In honor of Grief Awareness Day, we recommend two of our @kidlitcollective.bsky.social books...DANCE LIKE A LEAF by @ajirving.bsky.social and Claudia Navarro and THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT by @writerjolene.bsky.social, Shaian Gutiérrez and @gabbyzapata.bsky.social. #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks

I forget to add hashtags here 😅 #disney #latinxsky #characterdesign #disneyland #pixar #coco

I was asked to do a couple of pieces for Disney Parks Wonderground gallery 😊Ernesto De La Cruz original painting sold, but there are prints in both California and Orlando Disney parks! The original painting of Up I think is still available. Hope you get a chance to visit and see them in person!💕

Spotted on the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators blog: The SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winners, including The Ofrenda That We Built by Shaian Gutiérrez, @gabbyzapata.bsky.social, and me! Thanks to Justin Campbell and Holly Thompson for blogging! 🥰🎉

scbwi.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...

🫶🏽💕

🌹 Happy National Latina Day 🌹

Today we celebrate the strength, brilliance, and vibrant culture of Latinas everywhere. From breaking barriers to building communities, your contributions inspire and empower.

I need to check out that movie still!! Ty for reminding me!

I wish someday studios would change the narrative to make dogs the villains and not the cats. Every single movie that features both, aaaaalways the cats end up being the villains lol. 😆 Nothing against it, but change it up!

New shop product by the holidays! What could it be??

I know this may not be everyone's favorite thing from me to do, but it's something very special to me that I've been working on that I'd like to keep under wraps until the final product is out :)
open.substack.com/pub/gabbyzap...
If you'd like to support, pls feel free to subscribe to follow along!

Tysm! 💕🤗too kind!

So kind!! Thank u! 💕🤗