Aracely Alvarado, a resident of Dinuba, California, often made up stories and songs in Spanish to help her students learn their numbers, letters, shapes and sizes. After another teacher suggested she perform at parties, her stage persona, Akuarella, was born. Now, she publishes children’s books and sells her songs on iTunes.

“There’s a shortage of books in Spanish for children that express the Latin voice, she said. Many children’s books in Spanish were translated from English. 'You lose the magic when you translate,'” she said. “However, with her latest book Los pingüinos, The penguins, she decided to translate it into English so bi-lingual children could read the book alone or with their Spanish-speaking parents.

Read the complete story here. Or look under “Inspire” in the Living section.