Cristina's books
Tara and the Towering Wave - Middle grade historical fiction
When her mother announces a holiday vacation to Thailand, Tara isn't thrilled. She would rather stay home with her friends, but Mom is determined they use the girls' trip to explore their Thai heritage. Tara is reluctant to travel so far from home, especially to a country to which she does not feel connected. Then disaster strikes. The day after Christmas, a massive tsunami sweeps through Phuket, Thailand. Tara's resort vacation suddenly becomes a fight to survive and find her mother. Based on the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.
Keep Dancing - Early chapter book
Lito is proud of his Filipino heritage, and he's one of the best dancers in his folk dance group. He and his sister, Nenita, plan to perform at their school's spring festival. When snickering classmates threaten to derail Lito's confidence, he needs to dig deep and keep dancing. Cristina is also especially proud to share her Filipino culture in this book.
Tae Kwon Do Test - Early chapter book
Mina has all the skills to pass her upcoming yellow belt test in Tae Kwon Do. But a fellow student's struggle shakes her confidence and tempts her to quit. As a black belt and instructor in Tae Kwon Do, Cristina used her experience to create a fun and engaging story about self-confidence and believing in one's self that also highlights the sport and martial art of Tae Kwon Do.
Can You Discover an Alien? - Choose-your-own-adventure
In this thrilling interactive chapter book, YOU are a reporter for a high-profile magazine, and you're about to discover the greatest scoop yet: Do aliens exist? To find out, you'll need to investigate some of history's most infamous alien encounters, from Area 51 in Nevada to Fairbanks, Alaska. Will you discover a real-life alien being, or will your investigative probe be nothing more than a close encounter? It's up to YOU! With dozens of choices, you can follow the clues to the end. Which path will YOU CHOOSE to discover the truth?
Red Riding Hood - Manga-inspired graphic novel
Revisit the tale of Red Riding Hood. A visit to her grandmother turns dangerous when Little Red encounter a wolf in the woods! Will she make it there safely, or fall victim to the wily wolf's trap? This different take on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood includes illustrations reflecting Japanese aesthetics and drawn in the Manga Chibi style.
The Untold Story of Larry Itliong, Labor Rights Hero - Biography
You may have read about the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott of the 1960s. But did you know it began as a strike led by Larry Itliong? He was a Filipino American labor organizer who had been working with grape pickers in California. He led a history-making labor rights movement that changed the lives of farm laborers across the United States.
Stan Lee: Get to Know the Comics Creator - Biography
Stan Lee is one of the most influential people in the comic book world. The memorable superheroes he created, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men, and Daredevil, helped build Marvel Comics into the publishing powerhouse everyone knows and enjoys today.
Stephen Hawking: Get to Know the Man Behind the Theory - Biography
Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest minds of our time. His theories about the universe have changed the way we think about black holes and the Big Bang. Learn more about the physicist who traveled the universe without leaving Earth.
WHAT LOLO WANTS - Cristina's debut picture book!
Maria loves to spend her days drawing with her grandfather, Lolo. But when Lolo begins to forget things, Maria must come up with a creative way to figure out what Lolo wants.
Published by Kids Can Press.
Illustrated by Jamie Bauza.
"A gentle read-aloud that celebrates love in change, this could be included on the SEL shelves,"- School Library Journal
TEEN TITANS GO!
Multiverse Adventures
chapter book series
Join the chaos and fun when the Teen Titans meet their doppelgangers in the Multiverse!
Published by Capstone.
llustrated by Dario Brizuela.
Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of different epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time -- proof that humans can work magic. - Carl Sagan