Almira Astudillo Gilles
Almira writes in several genres of children's literature, including picture books (Willie Wins, Lee and Low, 2001, Bank Street College List of Best Books, Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award 2005-2006 Masterlist, nominated for the Kiriyama Prize), poetry, middle grade novels, and short stories (one placed third in a national contest). In 2005, San Francisco-based Philippine Writers and Artists, Inc. gave her an award for children’s writing. Almira also writes for young adults. Her poetry collection “Old Man Walking,” about growing up in the Philippines was published by Moon Journal Press (2005). “Boxed In” was an essay published in Moon Journal Spring/Summer 2006, and “I Wish I Were Golfing” was a short play staged in Illinois. Two of her poems were nominated for “Best Poem” on the Muse poetry website. Almira has also written a book and short articles for educational publishers, while keeping in strict compliance with state standards.
Born and raised in the Philippines, she came to the U.S. for graduate study. After finishing her PhD, she taught graduate school in De Paul University and worked in consulting. Now she writes full-time and volunteers for UNICEF.
Almira’s author presentations, for the very young to adults, have taken place in classrooms, libraries, festivals, and museums. She always encourages active participation from the audience, through writing exercises or discussion, and brings unique props and giveaways to liven up her presentations. Her talks on multicultural literature, where she shares her ethnic background and introduces her birthplace, the Philippines, are much sought after. She participates in poetry readings in her local area, and she also has attended playwriting workshops with Chicago Dramatist. She has been interviewed on national TV, has emceed for the President of the Philippines in Chicago, and has been featured in many publications both here and abroad. In July 2006 Almira was invited by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to give a presentation about her work as part of their Centennial Celebration of Filipinos in America. She is also a Chicago Filipino-American Hall of Fame awardee 2006 and a featured author on the National Education Association website.
If you are looking for someone to add a different flavor to author visits, Almira is the one to contact.
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