Southern California Creator Spotlight : Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Meet #kidlit Creator, author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez!
Nydia’s family has a long history in Southern California. She was born and raised in Ontario and says, “The diverse community that makes up the Inland Empire always shows up in my work as well as my multicultural journey and the active will to maintain my bilingualism.”
Titles include:
Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown, published by Abrams, illustrated by Loris Lora is an School Library Journal Best Book of the Year in Nonfiction Elementary. It also came out in Spanish this past October 2025.
The American Library Association’s Booklist Online gave a star, saying, “An inspiring introduction to Kahlo.”.
Not Far From Here , published by Candlewick, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, was a 2025 Notable Social Studies Book Award Lists - Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book Winner , and an Honorable Mention for the International Latino Book Awards
“A debut author and an award-winning illustrator unite to craft an entirely bilingual ode to the amor, courage, and memories we carry from one generation to the next, from one country to another.”
Nydia gives a special shoutout to local indie bookstores like The Frugal Frigate & Cellar Door Bookstore in the Inland Empire. “They receive everyone with open arms and are champions of literacy.” - Nydia
Coming up in 2026 is The Women Before Us, published by Candelwick, in both English and Spanish.
In 2027 VROOM, VROOM, Vámonos: From School Bus to Chicken Bus, published by Scholastic, illustrated by Teresa Martinez.
Interested in Nydia visiting your school? See more information on her website and follow her on Instagram. .