(Read this article in Spanish)
The honorees of Texas State University’s Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award for works published in 2025 have been announced. Zeke Peña, author of Sundust, was recognized in the works for young readers category; Xelena González, author, and Emily Kewageshig, illustrator of Of the Sun, were recognized in the young readers category; and Hailey Alcaraz, author of Rosa by Another Name, was recognized in the older readers category.
The recipients will be honored during a celebration on the San Marcos Campus on Nov. 12, 2026, with additional appearances and events to be announced.
Award recipients will participate in presentations and discussions on campus offering students, educators and community members the opportunity to hear directly from the authors and illustrator about their creative processes and the cultural inspirations behind their books.
Established by the College of Education in 1995, the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award encourages authors, illustrators and publishers to create literature that authentically reflects the lives, values and experiences of Mexican American children and young adults in the United States. In addition to recognizing literary excellence, the award promotes literacy and celebrates high-quality children’s and young adult literature centered on the Mexican American experience.
About the Honored Books
Sundust
In Sundust, Peña “takes readers on a run through a beautiful desert landscape with two siblings chasing a fallen piece of sundust.” The book explores identity, family and belonging. Through vibrant artwork and heartfelt storytelling, the book offers young readers a powerful reflection of culture and community.
Of the Sun
Of the Sun is an “an uplifting and mighty poem that wraps the Indigenous children of the Americas in reassuring words filled with hope for a brighter future and reminders of their bond and importance to the land.” The story centers connection to heritage, to ancestors and to the natural world. Blending poetic language with evocative illustrations, González and and Kewageshig invite readers to reflect on resilience, memory and hope.
Rosa by Another Name
In Rosa by Another Name, Alcaraz introduces readers to a Mexican American girl during the civil rights era who “is driven to join a movement for justice after her white classmate and best friend from the barrio are tragically murdered.” The book presents a compelling narrative for older readers that examines self-discovery, family history and the complexities of identity. Through nuanced storytelling, the novel highlights the strength found in embracing one’s roots while forging an individual path.
About the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
The Tomás Rivera Award at Texas State celebrates authors and illustrators dedicated to depicting the values and culture of Mexican Americans. Rivera, who died in 1984, graduated from Texas State with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before receiving a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. A Distinguished Alumnus of Texas State, Rivera published his landmark novel in 1971 titled ...y no se lo tragó la tierra/ ...And the Earth Did Not Part. In 1979, Rivera was appointed chancellor of the University of California-Riverside, the first Hispanic chancellor named to the University of California System.
For more information about the Rivera Award and upcoming events, visit the Rivera Award website at http://www.education.txstate.edu/ci/riverabookaward.