Nathalie Alonso
Nathalie Alonso is a bilingual Cuban American journalist and Sibert Honor-winning author from Queens, New York. She is the author of several picture books, including Old Clothes for Dinner?! (Barefoot Books, 2024), Call Me Roberto! (Calkins Creek, 2024), Take Me Out to the Ball Game! (Barefoot Books, 2025) and ¡Viva Valenzuela! (Calkins Creek, 2026). Nathalie was part of the Spanish editorial team at MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, for almost two decades. She is also a freelance writer with bylines in TIME for Kids, National Geographic, Refinery29, AFAR and Outside, among other publications. Nathalie holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Columbia University.
¡Viva Valenzuela!: Fernandomania Erupts in Los Angeles
When teenage pitcher Fernando Valenzuela arrived from Mexico to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, few Mexican Americans closely followed baseball. But everything changed in 1981. After Fernando won eight straight games as a rookie, excitement spread across Los Angeles and beyond. Fans packed Dodger Stadium, families in Mexico tuned in on their radios, and a cultural phenomenon—“Fernandomania”—was born. With his remarkable pitching and signature windup, Fernando became an international star. Just as important, he gave Mexican and Mexican American fans a hero they could proudly call their own. Journalist Nathalie Alonso and illustrator John Parra celebrate the story of a player who united communities through the game.