“Writing children’s literature taught me to not compartmentalize or oversimplify these ideas, but rather distill the core message – that immigration is a human right – in a way that children can understand.”
Clarita Migrates North is a tender and powerful story that honors the dignity, strength, and love of migrant families.
Inspired by Antonio’s journey as someone born in Mexico and raised in the United States, his debut picture book shines a light on an experience many families know firsthand: leaving one place behind and building a life in another.
This year we are honored to feature illustrations from Clarita Migrates North throughout our 2025 Annual Report. Through vibrant illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, Antonio’s work reflects many of the themes at the heart of the Young Center’s mission: ensuring immigrant children are heard, valued, and seen as children first.
Read on to learn more about Antonio’s creative process, the power of child-centered storytelling, and the connections he sees between his work and the mission of the Young Center.
Clarita Migrates North is told through the eyes of Clarita. How did you approach illustrating the story from a child’s perspective, and why is it important to center children’s experiences in storytelling?
I approach my work through simplicity. I have always wanted to write and illustrate my own children’s picture book that explores complex issues, such as immigration as a human right, in a simple yet powerful format. Writing children’s literature taught me to not compartmentalize or oversimplify these ideas, but rather distill the core message – that immigration is a human right – in a way that children can understand. At the same time, that same core message can hold the depth and complexity needed to engage with community, state, and national leaders that are seeking to remove barriers to this human right so that all children can live happier and thriving lives.
The Young Center works to ensure immigrant children are seen first and foremost as children. How did you approach portraying Clarita’s personality and perspective rather than defining her solely by her migration journey?
As an educator, I always let students and children shine in their own light when I work with them. An educator’s role is never to impose our perspective, but to guide students’ learning and create space for them to express themselves. I approached Clarita in the same way. Children’s literature taught me that characters speak for themselves. My job is to listen carefully and channel their thoughts, feelings, and personality onto the written and illustrated page.
“My hope is that readers recognize Clarita as one of many immigrant children whose stories have unfolded for generations and continue to unfold today. As an artist, I want to humanize these experiences and draw attention to migration as a
human right.”
How do you hope readers think differently about migration and family unity after reading Clarita Migrates North?
My hope is that readers recognize Clarita as one of many immigrant children whose stories have unfolded for generations and continue to unfold today. As an artist, I want to humanize these experiences and draw attention to migration as a human right. I hope Clarita Migrates North becomes a springboard for meaningful conversations – not only empathizing with Clarita and her family’s journey, but also how each of us can take small, everyday steps to build more inclusive and welcoming communities. Sometimes that begins with something as simple as saying hello, inviting someone into community, or challenging the assumptions and prejudices that keep us from connecting with one another.
What connections do you see between the themes in Clarita Migrates North and the work organizations like the Young Center do to advocate for children’s best interests?
The connections are huge. I believe in creating opportunities to discuss and represent our communities through art, but representation alone is not enough to create change. Change happens through advocacy and systems work. For me, advocacy goes beyond representation and into action, which is exactly what the Young Center does through its advocacy and direct services.
When the Young Center reached out about featuring your illustrations in this year’s Annual Report, what made you want to be part of the project?
I strongly believe in the Young Center’s mission because our values align. As an artist, I always value working with organizations that are committed not only to supporting humanitarian causes, but also to partnering with artists and elevating our work. It takes visionary leaders, like the wonderful people at the Young Center, to commission artists whose work can complement and further amplify their mission
