Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford grew up on the Arizona-Mexico border, in Nogales, AZ where she embraced the languages, cultures and people from infancy. A lifelong bilingual educator, Roni began teaching at 21 yrs. of age after graduating from college, in 3 years with distinction. She now shares the gems of growing up in a multilingual, multicultural environment through her stories.
Roni’s most recent and first self-published work, through Archway Publishing, 2025 – ”What Color Is Your Hand? ¿De Qué Color Es Tu Mano?” is gaining notoriety and respect from the literary community as demonstrated by its first accolades, named a 2025 Southwest Books of the Year, and most recently named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 International Latino Book Awards.
Roni's first book, published by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in 2002 is on its way to becoming a bilingual classic. After 24 years, "My Nana's Remedies/Los Remedios De Mi Nana" is still a popular title whenever it appears on a bookshelf.
Roni’s penultimate book published by Arte Público Press of the University of Houston is “Raulito – The First Latino Governor of Arizona/El Primer Gobernador Latino De Arizona.” Raulito is a YA bilingual biography on the life and legacy of Raúl Héctor Castro, Arizona’s only-to-date Latino governor, also 3 times U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Bolivia and Argentina. Ms. Rivera-Ashford spent many hours visiting Governor Castro, at his Nogales home, writing his story to share this inspiration with youngsters and oldsters too. This book was named one of The Southwest Books of the Year for 2023, and has been recorded in both English and Spanish for the National Library of Congress as an audio book, Honorable Mention as a Bilingual Biography – Latino-centric by the University of Texas San Antonio/UTSA Campoy-Ada awards, plus three awards by the International Latino Book Awards. The Center for the Book, selected Raulito as a Great Reads book to represent the state of Arizona in the National Library of Congress’ Book Festival held in Washington, D.C.
“My Tata’s Remedies/Los Remedios De Mi Tata,” published by Cinco Puntos Press in 2015, now a Lee and Low title, received nearly one dozen national, international and state awards. In 2016, Tata’s won two 1st place awards as best bilingual picture book and best bilingual educational book from the International Latino Book Awards group. This brought Disney editors’ attention to Roni’s work. Prior to Raulito, Tata’s was selected as the book to represent the state of Arizona in the National Library of Congress’ Great Reads.
In 2017, Roni, along with her son Aaron Rivera-Ashford, co-wrote “Miguel and the Amazing Alebrijes” for the Disney/Pixar Academy-Award Winning movie Coco. This book was awarded 1st and 2nd place at the International Latino Book Awards. Roni was involved with creating five more books to accompany Coco, the last one being a companion book called “A Puppy for Miguel.”
“Hip, Hip, Hooray, It’s Monsoon Day!/¡Ajúa, Ya Llegó El Chubasco!” and “My Nana’s Remedies/Los Remedios De Mi Nana,” her first two bilingual, bicultural and educational books, published by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Press, have also been recognized with numerous awards. Roni was honored in 2009 as a Judy Goddard/Libraries, Ltd. Award recipient, a lifetime recognition as a lauded author, and receiving the One Book Arizona State Award.
When Roni puts her creative passion into writing, she does it with the intention of creating books that become tools to help preserve both the English and Spanish languages, along with family and cultural traditions, history and science. Her goal is to continue building bridges of acceptance, communication, diversity and self-confidence, as well as promoting the elimination of bullying and discrimination through her stories.
Awards: National Book Award, Pura Belpré Award, ALA Children's Notable Book List, International Latino Book Award, Pura Belpré Honor Book, Great Read of AZ Award, Skipping Stones Honor Award, One Book AZ Award, Judy Goddard/Libraries, Ltd. Award, Southwest Children's Book Award, Purple Dragonfly Book Award, Américas Award for Latin American & Carribean Studies - Commended Title, AAAS Science Children's Book Highest Recommendation
Communities: Arizona Author, Tucsonan, Hispanic or Latinx, Jewish community
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information from the Tucson Festival of Books!
