In May of 2026, award winning writer Sandra Cavazos Ayala launched her second bilingual children’s book, Tina the Turtle or Tina la Tortuga, a heartwarming story chronicling the adventures of a library tortoise named Tina (paying homage to a real tortoise named Tina that had been living in the Joe. A. Guerra public library) as she excitedly waits for the library to open and the children to arrive. Fittingly, the launch was held in the same library that the real Tina called home, with the first 25 families that arrived receiving a free copy of the book — a vital piece of Ayala’s mission that was made possible by public donations.
Combined with the eye-catching and adorable illustrations of Christina Zertuche, Ayala’s words captivated parents and children alike, as the children eagerly clutched the treasured copies they had been gifted as though they were pure gold.
Inspired by her grandson, Ayala created this story to ignite a love of reading in the children and families of Laredo, while encouraging them and their caregivers to read together, engage with one another, and visit the public library, “It’s a short story, but the message is huge. We want kids to see that they can be safe in the library.”
With decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and reading specialist for all ages, Ayala’s children’s books are intentional and purposeful, each word and concept carefully thought out to not only develop a sense of language and vocabulary, but to encourage young readers to find their voice, fortify their imagination, and experience a sense of safety and security as they engage with her stories.
As Ayala tours with her newest book, she is passionately seeking donations to provide free copies of Tina la Tortuga to the children in the community, hopeful that others who care about literacy on the border will contribute to the cause. “The more books I give, the more I can have them in the hands of children, and that is my goal!”
Childhood literacy is truly a goal worth fighting for.
(Hannah Frey is a freelance writer, student, partner, and advocate for the disenfranchised. Not originally from Laredo, she moved to the border in 2014 with her children, quickly falling in love with her new community that she proudly calls home. Her writing ranges from academic research to trauma-informed community columns to stories about the arts. She is consistently grateful for the opportunity to share her work with the community that she loves so dearly.)
