Author visit to the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library (Fresno, CA). Photo courtesy of Jamie Kurumaji.
Ernesto Cisneros is a 25-year veteran teacher currently serving the city of Santa Ana, California. He is the author of Efrén Divided, which won the 2020 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award. Ernesto holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine, a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach, as well as a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University.
Q: Libraries have played a central role in your life and work. I am thinking of Efrén Divided and the escape that the school library provided for him. Can you share a moment when a library or librarian made a lasting impact on you as a young reader or writer?
A: As a middle grader, I remember going to the library to do research for a social studies project on México. A librarian named Bobbye patiently showed me how to use all the available resources. I’m talking card catalogs, the periodicals section, and reference books. It felt like being let in on a secret world of information.
What still amazes me is that about 40 years later, that very same librarian, Bobbye, helped me track down resources for my third book, Queso, Just in Time. The fact that someone who guided me as a child was still there to support me as a writer feels incredibly full circle. How wonderful is that!
Author visit to the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library (Fresno, CA) – Book signing. Photo courtesy of Jamie Kurumaji.
Q: Your books capture and center around the authentic human experience of young people. Why do you believe it is important for youth to see themselves reflected in literature?
A: I remember going to the library and seeing books like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on the shelves. As well written and beloved as those books were, they didn’t connect to me or my lived experience. I didn’t see characters facing challenges that felt familiar, and I didn’t see diversity reflected in those stories.
At that point in my life, I stopped reading for pleasure simply because I didn’t want to read about kids destined for greatness when I was struggling just to imagine a future for myself. Seeing yourself in books isn’t about validation alone – it’s about possibility. When young people recognize their lives, families, and struggles in stories, they understand that their experiences matter and that their stories are worth telling.
Q: What role can libraries play in supporting young people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalized communities?
A: I’ve had the privilege of visiting many libraries, and I continue to be wowed by the breadth of resources they offer. Libraries today are far more than shelves of books. Beyond print and media collections, many provide homework help, free internet access, quiet study spaces, makerspaces, and community programming that reflects and serves the neighborhoods around them.
For young people – especially those from underrepresented or marginalized communities – libraries have become safe, welcoming spaces to explore interests, build skills, and imagine new possibilities. They level the playing field by offering access, support, and opportunity, all without judgment or cost.
Q: What advice would you give library workers who are advocating for diverse and inclusive collections in their communities?
A: Keep going, even when it feels challenging. Representation matters more than ever, and your work has a real impact on young readers who are quietly searching for themselves in books. Listen to your community, trust your instincts, and don’t underestimate the power of a single story placed in the right hand. Advocacy isn’t always loud – it’s often steady, thoughtful, and deeply meaningful.
Q: What conversations with young readers have stayed with you, long after a library or school visit?
A: The conversations that stay with me most are the quiet ones – when a student pulls me aside to say, “This felt like my story,” or “I didn’t know books could be about kids like me.” Those moments remind me why I write. They’re proof that stories can open doors, start healing, and help young people feel seen, sometimes for the very first time.
Author visit at the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library (Fresno, CA). Photo courtesy of Jamie Kurumaji.
Q: Fun questions time! What was your favorite book, or books, as a kid?
A: After all these years, I still remember every single book I received for free through the RIF program at school. My favorite was Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree because of its great message and humor. The premise still makes me laugh to this day.
Q: One more! Coffee, tea, or snacks while writing? What is your go-to?
A: I used to go with nachos as my go-to writing snack, but as I’ve gotten older – and continue to add a little extra weight – I’ve been switching things up. These days it’s vegetables with low-fat dressing or pumpkin seeds… con chile y limón.
This post addresses the following ALSC Competency V: Outreach and Advocacy.
Jamie Kurumaji, Supervising Librarian at Fresno County Public Library, is writing this post on behalf of the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee. She can be reached at jkurumaji@gmail.com.