Pittsburg author publishes first children’s book

Larena Baldazo’s “We Are Twins” based on experience with own daughter

Sales benefit Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation

Pittsburg resident and now local author, Larena Baldazo, has launched her first children’s book, We Are Twins.

The story recognizes differences while celebrating similarities, especially among children with unique learning styles and special needs. This simple story packs a big message for young readers, with a goal of bringing awareness to everyone’s needs and fostering inclusiveness.

This book aims to serve as a tool to start the conversation and lead with intentionality. We Are Twins focuses on two friends, Luli and Valentina, to explore the idea that it is our differences that make us special, and our similarities are what spark long-lasting friendships. At first glance, the girls are nearly complete opposites, how can they be twins? Do people have to be exactly alike to become and stay friends? Read it for yourself and find out!

We Are Twins is now available in-store and online at the Railroad Book Depot. Oh, and shipping is free! The book retails for $19.99 and 30% of each sale goes toward arts and literature programs through the Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation.

Order here or buy it in-store at: 485 Railroad Avenue, Pittsburg, CA.

About the Author
With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Digital Media, and a plethora of blog posts as a writer for Baby Center’s Spanglish Mamis channel, Larena Baldazo’s passion has always been for storytelling. Over the years, her creativity led her down a path of marketing, creating content for social media, and web producing for brands and big names such as the San Francisco Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and then on to public service.

Behind the stories, the photography, and the Instagram lives, Larena’s first job is being a mom. She and her husband live in Pittsburg, and if you look at the illustrations in this book closely, you may see some familiar spots if you know the area well enough. Just after Larena’s daughter turned three years old, she was diagnosed with 100 percent hearing loss in her right ear and a learning disability. With little information, so many questions and a lack of guidance, Larena quickly learned that she needed to be her daughter’s advocate to get her the support services she needed. Whether that was in the doctor’s office or at school.

We Are Twins is inspired by her daughter, not only because of her journey, but because this was something she would often say when she felt a connection with someone or shared the same interest. Once again, Larena’s daughter had introduced her to a new way of thinking…that it is our differences that make us special, and our similarities are what spark long-lasting friendships.