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Pedro Martín (author)

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Pedro Martín
Occupation
  • Graphic artist
  • Writer
EducationSan Jose State University
Notable worksMexikid: A Graphic Memoir
Website
pedromartinbooks.com
www.pedromartinart-design.com

Pedro "Peter" Martín is a Mexican-American graphic artist, children's book author, and former-Hallmark artist.[1][non-primary source needed][2][non-primary source needed]

The seventh of nine children, Martín was raised by Mexican parents in the Monterey Bay-area.[3][4] He graduated from San Jose State University, where he studied graphic design.[4] After college, Martín worked as an illustrator at Hallmark, where he designed holiday cards; it was here that he later created the character Asteroid Andy, a young boy who meets various aliens after an alien elementary school lands near his house.[2]

Martín is most well known for his graphic novel Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir,[5] inspired by a childhood journey to Jalisco, Mexico in an RV with his parents and 8 siblings when he was 13. He developed the story into a webcomic first and then a graphic novel.[6] The novel was well received by critics and received multiple awards. The sequel, Mexikid Dreams is scheduled for publication in September 2026.[7]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Mexikid was regularly included on lists of the year's best books. In 2023, The New York Times and the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature named it one of the year's best children's books,[8][9] while Brightly, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly named it one of the year's best middle grade books.[10][11][12] The Guardian named it one of the year's five best young adult books.[13] Booklist, the New York Public Library, and School Library Journal named it among the year's best graphic novels.[14][15][16] Chicago Public Library named it one of the Best Informational Books for Older Readers,[17] and The Horn Book named it one of the year's best nonfiction children's books.[18] NPR included it on their annual list of "Books We Love".[19] The following year, Bank Street College of Education named Mexikid a book of "outstanding merit" for children ages 9-12.[20] Booklist included the graphic novel on their lists of the top 10 graphic novels for teens,[21] biographies and memoirs for youth,[22] and middle-grade graphic novels.[23] The Association for Library Service to Children named the book among their list of Notable Children's Books and the audiobook among their list tof Notable Children's Recordings.[24][25]

Awards for Martín's work
Title Year Award Result Ref.
Mexikid 2024 Américas Award Winner [26]
Cybils Award for Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novel Finalist [27]
Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids Winner [28][29]
Harvey Award for Best Children's Book Winner [30]
Heartland Booksellers Award for YA/Middle Grade Winner [31]
Newbery Medal Honor [32]
Odyssey Award Honor [33]
Pura Belpré Author Award Winner [32][34]
Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award Winner [32][35]
Tomás Rivera Award Winner [36]

Publications

[edit]

As author

[edit]
  • MexiKid: A Graphic Memoir. Dial Books. 2023. ISBN 978-0-593-46228-7.
  • Mexkid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir. Dial Books. 2026. ISBN 979-8217-00248-1.

As illustrator

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Pedro Martín". Pedro Martin Books. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Schwartz, William (September 16, 2024). "An interview with Mexikid author Pedro Martin: "The best stories rely heavily on abandoning your ego"". The Comics Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  3. ↑ Engelfried, Steven (January 6, 2024). "Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: MEXIKID by Pedro Martin". School Library Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Pedro Martín". The Author Village. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Mexikid by Pedro Martín". Publishers Weekly. July 19, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Kniggendorf, Anne (October 4, 2024). "Former Hallmark artist Pedro Martín shows being a 'Mexikid' can be universal in new graphic novel". KCUR. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ Youssif, Carolina (May 1, 2026). "Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir". School Library Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Krauss, Jennifer (December 8, 2023). "The Best Children's Books of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Best Books 2023". Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  10. ↑ Bradshaw, Janssen (November 21, 2023). "The Best Middle Grade & Chapter Books of 2023". Brightly. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Best of 2023". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Best Books 2023". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  13. ↑ Williams, Imogen Russell (December 7, 2023). "Five of the best young adult books of 2023". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Graphic Novels, 2023". Booklist. December 1, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  15. ↑ "2023 Best Books for Kids". New York Public Library. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  16. ↑ Amiri, Jasmine; Arch, Jenny; Diaz, Shelley M.; Lipinski, Andrea; Riemer, Carla. "Best Graphic Novels 2023". School Library Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2023". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Fanfare 2023 Booklist". The Horn Book. December 11, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Books We Love". NPR. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  20. ↑ "The Best Children's Books of the Year: Nine to Twelve, 2024 Edition" (PDF). Bank Street College of Education. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2024". Booklist. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  22. ↑ Khuri, Ronny (June 1, 2024). "Top 10 Biographies & Memoirs for Youth: 2024". Booklist. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  23. ↑ Hunter, Sarah (July 2024). "Top 10 Middle-Grade Graphic Novels: 2024". Booklist. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Notable Children's Books: 2024". Booklist. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Notable Children's Recordings: 2024". Booklist. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Award Winners". Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  27. ↑ "2023 Cybils Finalists". Cybils Awards. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Awards: Eisner Winners". Shelf Awareness . July 30, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  29. ↑ Garrity, Shaenon K. (July 27, 2024). "'Roaming' Wins 2024 Eisner Award for Best New Graphic Novel". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Previous Winners". Harvey Awards. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  31. ↑ Kirch, Claire (October 8, 2024). "Milwaukee Welcomes Heartland Booksellers". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones, Iyana (January 22, 2024). "Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Odyssey Winners and Honor Audiobooks". Booklist. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Reviews of the 2024 Pura Belpré Author Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Reviews of the 2024 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Book Award Winners". Texas State University. April 10, 2026. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Don't Know Much about the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis". Publishers Weekly. January 1, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  38. ↑ "PARKER PICKS by Deborah A. Levine, Deb Levine". Publishers Weekly. October 7, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
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