Fifteen years ago, Amy Córdova’s first children’s book, Abuelita’s Heart, written and illustrated by Córdova, was published by Simon and Schuster in New York.
Books opened another window into the creative world for Córdova. Since then, she has illustrated more than eighteen works for children, written by notable authors and published by major U.S. publishers. She has written and illustrated two books of her own, Abuelita’s Heart, and Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses.

In the summer of 2010, Córdova, along with her collaborator, Diana Cohn, traveled to the “free trade” rose farms of Ecuador to research Roses for Isabella, for Steiner Books, New York.

Córdova has conducted lectures and art residences with both children and adults in numerous cities across the United States, as well as, in her home state of New Mexico.

Sponsored by the NEA Big Read, Córdova led classes in Universities, schools and library systems in California, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Oklahoma — spreading the message of each one’s magical and creative spark.

In that time, she made art with more than four thousand elementary school children and adults.

Córdova is a magnetic conference speaker and has presented at events throughout the US, including the Wisconsin Library Association’s Annual Convention (Appleton, Wisconsin), and the ‘Roots’ Program of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Córdova, influenced by story, sense of place, sacred inter-connectedness and traditional cultural mores, creates an inclusive, holistic world through the arts, where vibrant color expressed with humor and grace, depict the divine and unexpected in everyday life.

 

TITLES ILLUSTRATED

My Night Forest, Roy Owen, Simon and Schuster, New York

Abuelita’s Heart, written and illustrated by Amy Córdova, Simon and Schuester, New York

My Land Sings, Rudolfo Anaya, UNM Press, Albuquerque

DreamCarver, Diana Cohn, Chronicle Books, San Francisco

The Blue Roses, Linda Boyden, Lee and Lowe, New York

The Santero’s Miracle, Rudolfo Anaya, UNM Press, Albuquerque

Juan and the Jackalope, Rudolfo Anaya, UNM Press, Albuquerque

The First Tortilla, Rudolfo Anaya, UNM Press, Albuquerque

Juan the Bear and the Water of Life, Enrique La Madrid, UNM Press, Albuquerque

What Can You Do With A Rebozo? Carmen Tafolly, Tricycle / Random House, New York

Namaste, Diana Cohn, Steiner Book, New York

Amadito and the Hero Children, Enrique Madrid, NUNM Press, Albuquerque

Fiesta Babies, Carmen Tafollya, Tricycle / Random House, New York

Roses for Isabella, Diana Cohn, Steiner Books, New York

Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses, written and illustrated by Amy Córdova, Steiner Books, New York

La Llorona, Rudolfo Anaya, UNM Press, Albuquerque

Ponciano Gutierrez and the Mountain Thieves, Gabriel Mendez, UNM Press, Albuquerque

 

SELECTED AWARDS

ALA National Pura Belpre Honors 2009 and 2011

Wisconsin Library Association Illustrator’s Award 2011

NM/AZ Book Awards – Illustrator Award 2012