Sonia Manzano is best known as “Maria” on Sesame Street, where she spent 44 seasons, earning two Emmy nominations and a Lifetime Achievement Daytime Emmy in 2016. As a writer, she won 15 Emmys. She later created Alma’s Way for PBS KIDS, which won two Imagen Awards and earned Emmy and NAACP Image Award nominations. In 2022, she received the PBS Beacon Award. Beyond TV, she has authored four picture books and three young adult novels. Her keynote will explore the impact of children’s television, with a focus on representation. Ms. Manzano will participate in a moderated Q&A and will be signing copies of her books, a selection of which will be available for purchase onsite courtesy of Los Amigos Bookstore. Titles include:

• • • • • • • • • The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano
                • Crecer siendo cubano
                • Coming Up Cuban: Rising Past Castro’s Shadow
                • Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx
                • Ser María: Amor y caos en el Bronx
                • A World Together
                • No Dogs Allowed!