CAMPOY, F. Isabel (Coronado) 1946-

PERSONAL: Born June 25, 1946, in Alicante, Spain; daughter of Juan Diego Campoy (a professor of English) and Maria Coronado Guerro (a homemaker). Ethnicity: "Hispanic." Education: Universidad Complutense, Madrid, B.A. and M.A. (English philology); Reading University, M.A. (dialectology); doctoral studies in applied linguistics at University of California, Los Angeles. Politics: "A defender of justice and peace." Hobbies and other interests: Painting, collecting art, observing children and nature.

ADDRESSES: Home—10 Walnut St., Mill Valley, CA 94941. Office—38 Miller Ave., No. 181, Mill Valley, CA 94941. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Poet, playwright, storyteller, and editor. Mangold & Santillana Publishing, Madrid, Spain, editor, 1971-78; Houghton, Mifflin, Boston, MA, senior acquisitions editor, 1981-93; freelance writer and lecturer on educational and multicultural matters. Transformative Education Services, president. Member of board of directors, Children's Book Council, 1998—, and San Francisco Public Library Foundation, 1997—.

MEMBER: National Council of Teachers of English, International Reading Association, CABE, NABE, Association of Spanish Professionals in the U.S.A. (president, 1994-96), various national and regional bilingual education associations.

AWARDS, HONORS: Fulbright scholar, 1979-81; Friends and Foundation of San Francisco Public Library Laureate Award, 2003.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN; WITH ALMA FLOR ADA

Tablado de Doña Rosita/Curtain's Up, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 2001.

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Caperucita Roja!/Happy Birthday, Little Red Riding Hood! (bilingual edition), illustrated by Ana López Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

El nuevo hogar de los siete cabritos/The New Home of the Seven Billy Goats, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

A New Job for Pérez the Mouse/Ratoncito Perez, Cartero, illustrated by Sandra López Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

One, Two, Three, Who Can It Be?/Uno, dos, tres: ¡Dime quién es!, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

On the Wings of the Condor/En alas del condor, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

Eyes of the Jaguar/Ojos del jaguar, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.

The Quetzal's Journey/Vuelo del quetzal, illustrated by Felipe Davalos, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 2002.

Friends from A to Z: A Glossary of the Hispanic World/Amigos de la A a la Z: Un alfabeto del mundo hispánico, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 2002.

(Adaptor) Rosa Raposa, illustrated by Ariane Dewey and Jose Aruego, Harcourt (New York, NY), 2002.

(Compiler) Pío peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes (bilingual edition), illustrated by Vivi Escriva, English adaptations by Alice Schertle, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.

Also translator of children's books into Spanish, including works by Louis Ehlert, Gary Soto, Kathleen Krull, and Gerald McDermott.

Works also published in Spanish translation.

"GATEWAYS TO THE SUN" SERIES; WITH ALMA FLOR ADA

Smiles/Sonrisas (biographies of Pablo Picasso, Gabriela Mistral, and Benito Juarez), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.

Steps/Pasos (biographies of Rita Moreno, Fernando Botero, and Evelyn Cisneros), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.

Voices/Voces (biographies of Luis Valdez, Judith F. Baca, and Carlos J. Finlay), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.

Paths/Caminos (biographies of José Marti, Frida Kahlo, and Cesar Chavez), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.

Yo/I Am, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Rimas/Rhymes, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Poemas/Poems, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Palabras/Words, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Mis relatos/My Stories, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Mis recuerdos/My Memories, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Mambru, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Letras, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Lapices/Pencils, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Crayones/Crayons, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Colores/Colors, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Así soy/This Is Me, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Acuarela, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 1999.

Blue and Green/Azul y Verde, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Brush and Paint/Brocha y pinchel, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Artist's Easel/Caballete, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Canvas and Paper/Lienzo y Papel, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

(Selector) Dreaming Fish/Pimpón (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

(Selector) Laughing Crocodiles/Antón Pirulero (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

(Selector) Singing Horse/Mambrú (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

(Selector and contributor) Flying Dragon/Chuchurumbé (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Series published in Spanish translation as "Colleccion Puertas al Sol."

POETRY; IN SPANISH; WITH ALMA FLOR ADA

Gorrión, Gorrión, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

El verde limón, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

La rama azul, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Nuevo día, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Huertos de coral, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Ríos de lava, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Dulce es la sal, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Canta la letra, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Caracolí, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Con ton y son, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Corre al coro, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

El camino de tu risa, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

El son de sol, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Qué rica la ronda! illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

Sigue la música, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.

PLAYS; WITH ALMA FLOR ADA

Primer Acto, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Risas y aplausos, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Escenas y alegrías, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Actores y flores, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Saludos al público, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Ensayo general, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Acto final, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.

Rat-a-Tat, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000, published as Rat-a-Tat Cat, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 2002.

Roll 'n' Roll, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000, published as Roll 'n Role, Santillana USA Publishing (Miami, FL), 2002.

Top Hat, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Curtains Up! Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.

Works published in Spanish translation.

IN SPANISH

Quieres que to cuente? Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

En un lugar muy lejano, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

Erase que se era, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

Y fueron felices, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

Y colorín colorado, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

Así pasaron muchos años, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Sigue la palabra, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Imágenes del pasado, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Ecos de pasado, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.

(With Alma Flor Ada; and lyricist) Música amiga anthology of Hispanic folklore; includes tapes and teacher's guide), ten volumes, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1996-98.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Una semilla de luz, illustrated by Felipe Dávalos, Santillana/UNICEF (Madrid, Spain), 2000.

Also coauthor, with Alma Flor Ada, of Spanish language-arts programs Cielo abierto, Vamos de fiesta! and Trofeos, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1997, and of English-as-a-second-language programs.

TRANSLATOR; WITH ALMA FLOR ADA

Lois Ehlert, Plumas para almorzar (translation of Feathers for Lunch), illustrated by the author, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.

Lois Ehlert, A sembrar sopa de verduras (translation of Growing Vegetable Soup), illustrated by the author, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.

Gary Soto, ¿Que montón de tamales! (translation of Too Many Tamales!), illustrated by Ed Martinez, PaperStar (New York, NY), 1996.

Ellen Stoll Walsh, Salta y brinc, (translation of Hop Jump), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.

Henry Horenstein, Béisobol en los barrios, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1997.

Mem Fox, Quienquiera que seas (translation of Whoever You Are), illustrated by Leslie Staub, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Gerald McDermott, Zomo el conejo: un cuento de Africa occidental (translation of Zomo the Rabbit), illustrated by the author, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Peter Golenbock, Compañeros de equipo (translation of Teammates), illustrated by Paul Bacon, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Lois Ehlert, Día de mercado (translation of Market Day), illustrated by the author, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2003.

FOR ADULTS

(With Alma Flor Ada) Home School Interaction with Culturally or Language-diverse Families, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Ayudando a nuestros hijos (title means "Helping Our Children"), Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Comprehensive Language Arts, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.

(With Alma Flor Ada) Effective English Acquisition for Academic Success, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.

(With Alma Flor Ada and Rosalma Zubizarreta) Authors in the Classroom: A Transformative Education Process, Allyn & Bacon (Boston, MA), 2003.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A nonfiction collection for ages five to eleven.

SIDELIGHTS: F. Isabel Campoy is the prolific author of bilingual materials for children of Hispanic heritage. Plays, poems, educational materials, picture books, biographies, and easy-readers all have issued from Campoy's fertile imagination, most of these works coauthored by Alma Flor Ada. In addition to standalone books, the collaborators have produced a number of book series, and several of their works have been included in the "Coleccion Puertas al Sol" series designed to introduce young readers to Hispanic culture. Their Música amiga anthology, published beginning in 1996, encompasses ten volumes of Hispanic folklore, along with original lyrics by Campoy, while other books, such as Happy Birthday, Little Red Riding Hood! "combine the charm of traditional tales with the surprise of the unexpected," according to Booklist reviewer Isabel Schon.

Books by Campoy and Ada that are part of the "Gateways to the Sun" series include the art books Blue and Green and Brush and Paper, as well as a four-book series of biographies of notable Hispanic men and woman titled Smiles, Steps, Voices, and Paths. Profiling such diverse individuals as artist Frida Kahlo, labor activist Cesar Chavez, and actress Rita Moreno, these books "briefly tell about the lives and achievements" of their subjects, according to Booklist reviewer Schon, who praised the entire series as "a very appealing introduction" to Spanish-language culture.

In addition to her works with Ada, Campoy has authored the picture book Rosa Raposa. The book contains three stories adapted from Spanish trickster tales that take readers into the Amazon rain forest. In "A Cry for Help," "A Strong North Wind," and "The Green Dress" the clever little fox Rosa Raposa manages to outwit a hungry and bullying jaguar. While noting that the stories are "rather flat" in their narration, a Publishers Weekly contributor nonetheless praised Rosa Raposa for its lively watercolor illustrations. Julie Cummins was more enthusiastic in her Booklist review, noting that Rosa Raposa features a "well-paced text" that, with the rhyming conclusion to each story, "will make for lively read-alouds." Calling the book "delightful," School Library Journal contributor Judith Constantinides added that Campoy's stories do much to promote "the idea that brains are better than brawn."

Campoy told CA: "I was born by the Mediterranean Sea in a town called Alicante, an ideal vacation place in Spain both for national and international tourists, so during my childhood I was always in contact with people coming and going—family and friends from all over the world.

"That, and the fact that my father was a professor of English and wanted his children to become proficient in as many languages as possible, provided me with a great desire to travel and be in touch with other cultures very early on. My favorite books as a chid were always full of adventure, from the medieval chivalric romances and the pirates of Sandocán to Treasure Island, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But perhaps my favorite of all times is The Little Prince by Antoine de Sainte-Exupéry.

"My curiosity for all things far and different was nurtured by my father's vast collection of National Geographic magazines that covered one side of our hallway from floor to ceiling, with copies that went back as far as 1924. Each picture was a promise of a new adventure, and I started writing about them in a huge accounting book my brother and I shared: on his end, the names of soccer players and winning teams; on mine, the products of my fertile imagination. My first published story was about a snowman. I was eleven, and I had never seen snow.

"At age sixteen, after a hard time convincing my mother and many competitive examinations, I won a scholarship as an exchange student to Trenton, Michigan. Finally, that winter, I saw snow—almost daily! I have the impression that I have been traveling ever since.

"In my twenties I crossed Europe and in Greece I fell in love with mythology. Years later I wrote down many legends of the Hispanic world.

"Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey were countries that fascinated me and inspired my research into the Arabic contributions to the history of Spain and Latin America.

"Whether in Asia or Micronesia, Africa or the Middle East, I have always found reason to admire other cultures and reflect on them. Perhaps that is why I write about Hispanic art, artists, theatre, poetry, and folklore: In the process of looking at other cultures, I discovered the beauty and richness of my own."

See sketch on Alma Flor Ada for more information.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 2000, p. 2154; February 15, 2002, Isabel Schon, review of Happy Birthday, Little Red Riding Hood! and The New Home of the Seven Billy Goats, p. 1022; September 1, 2002, Julie Cummins, review of Rosa Raposa, p. 136.

Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2002, review of Rosa Raposa, p. 1219.

Publishers Weekly, September 9, 2002, review of Rosa Raposa, p. 66.

School Library Journal, September, 2002, Judith Constantinides, review of Rosa Raposa, p. 181.

ONLINE

F. Isabel Campoy Web site,http://www.isabelcampoy.com (May 5, 2003).

OTHER

Path to My Word (videotape), Del Sol (Westlake, OH).