First rhyming children’s picture book in Operación Aviación™ / Operation Aviation™ series honored for translation excellence.
(St Paul, September 2024)— Vuela con Maytai by Teri Weber, illustrated by Brenda Harris, translated by Gabriella Aldeman, and published by Elva Resa Publishing (March 2024), has been named a finalist in the International Latino Book Awards in the category of Best Children’s Picture Book Translation: English to Spanish. The book will be awarded a Gold or Silver Medal at an October 19, 2024, ceremony in Los Angeles.
The International Latino Book Awards (ILBA) is the largest Latino cultural award ceremony in the US, growing awareness for books written by, for, and about Latinos.
Vuela con Maytai is a rhyming children’s picture book adventure about Maytai, an F-22 fighter jet with a need for speed! It’s the day of a big training exercise, and to win this airborne game of tag, Maytai will need help from her aircraft friends. By working together and sharing their diverse talents, Maytai and her team accomplish the mission and demonstrate the power of teamwork!
Vuela con Maytai (in English as Fly with Mytai) is part of the Operación Aviación™ (Operation AviationTM) series of rhyming military aircraft adventures, featuring anthropomorphic fighter jets and a supportive cast of aviation friends. Each book in the series is available in English and Spanish, for children ages 4 to 8.
About the translation process
Vuela con Maytai was translated using a unique collaborative process. To ensure an equally enjoyable and accessible reading experience for young readers in their native or preferred language of English or Spanish, Elva Resa’s translation, editing, and illustration teams worked closely together from the start of the project to bring each of the stories in the series to life, rhyming in both languages.
“Translating in rhyme is a thrill, a fun puzzle!” says translator Gabriella Aldeman. “I have to take the story and retell it in Spanish. It has to rhyme in Spanish and reflect the illustrations in each page.”
Vuela con Maytai is Elva Resa’s second book in Spanish and second ILBA award winner. The first translated children’s book, ¡Atrapa la estrella! (Night Catch), about a soldier and his son who play catch with the North Star during the dad’s deployment, was translated by Ana Stevenson and edited by Aldeman, and won a Gold medal in the ILBA awards for best book about military service.
Elva Resa has published four additional books in Spanish this year, all translated by Aldeman:
- Duck & Rabbit ABC military adventure / Pato y Conejo ABC aventura militar, a bilingual alphabet board book introducing military life concepts to young children.
- El Tanquecito (Toad the Tanker), Operación Aviación™, about a KC-135 tanker who refuels his friends in the air so they can accomplish their missions.
- El propósito de Estrella (Star’s Purpose ), a deployment story in which a star finds her special purpose serving alongside service members.
- La misión de Alce (Moose on a Mission), Operación Aviación™, about a C-17 cargo jet who loves really big adventures, works hard to get the job done, and makes friends along the way.
“It is a true honor to translate for Elva Resa, a publisher that truly understands that there is more to translation than changing words from one language to another,” says translator Gabriella Aldeman. “The goal for every translation is for the Spanish-speaking readers to have the same experience as readers of the source language. In order to do this, we ask ourselves questions such as: should the title be translated literally or should we come up with another title that works better or is catchier in Spanish? Should the name of the characters be translated? What would be the best way to translate songs, onomatopoeia, idioms? We look at the art, does it convey the same in both languages and cultures?”
Vuela con Maytai also received honorable mention for best cover design and best book about military service.
All of Elva Resa’s books in Spanish are available from MilitaryFamilyBooks.com and other retailers.
About the Author of Vuela con Maytai/Fly with Mytai
Teri Weber is a fourth-generation military officer who serves as a senior pilot in the US Air Force. A seasoned C-17A Instructor Aircraft Commander, Teri has experience leading combat-ready aircrew members and operating aircraft in support of humanitarian relief, medical evacuations, presidential movements, and Department of Defense initiatives. With a passion for developing the next generation of aviators, Teri frequently volunteers with children of all ages and backgrounds, serves as a guest speaker at Girls in STEM and Girls in Aviation events, and engages with young students through aircraft displays, career fairs, unit tours, and mentorship workshops. Teri is currently assigned to the Pentagon and lives in Washington, DC, with her Marine husband and their young son and daughter.
About the Illustrator
Brenda Harris is a graphic designer, illustrator, and art teacher. A second-generation Latina, she is heavily influenced by nature and storytelling. Her eye for balance and visual hierarchy is conveyed in her illustrations. Brenda works both digitally and with traditional media. Her illustrations tell playful and engaging stories through rich color palettes, atmospheric lighting, and authentic characters. Growing up in a military family and community, and later becoming an Air Force wife, she learned to be flexible, patient, observant, and to make friends wherever she goes. Brenda grew up in Colorado Springs, where she currently lives with her husband and two children.
About the Translator
Gabriella Aldeman is a Panamanian American author and translator. Her picture books include Paula’s Patches and Squawk of Spanish. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the American Translators Association. Gaby translates books for a variety of publishers and is Elva Resa’s lead Spanish translator and editor.
About the Editor
Tamara Rittershaus is a poetry editor and a picture book author. Her favorite picture books are in rhyme like the Operation Aviation series by Teri Weber. A former Montessori kindergarten teacher and PADI Divemaster, Tamara is inspired by her classroom, her love of the ocean, and her own two kids. Her books include Marie’s Big Adieu, Eel’s Book of Mermaid Jokes, Mermaids Don’t Fart, Lockdown Drill at Superhero School, and Jumpstart to Reading ABC.
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ELVA RESA PUBLISHING LLC is an award-winning, mission-driven, traditional independent publisher based in St. Paul, Minnesota, specializing in quality resources by, for, and about military families. Elva Resa’s mission is to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
ElvaResa.com, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com
MEDIA: Please contact Elva Resa PR at 651-357-8770 or pr [@] elvaresa.com for author interviews and notification of advance reading copies.
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Author bio and headshot: Teri Weber
Illustrator bio and headshot: Brenda Harris
Translator bio and headshot: Gabriella Aldeman
Rhyme editor bio and headshot: Tamara Rittershaus
More about Elva Resa’s books in Spanish: https://elvaresa.com/pdf/Elva-Resa-Books-in-Spanish.pdf
A conversation with the Operation Aviation author, illustrator, translator, and publisher about the collaborative creative process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P24o_eSnvFo&t=29s