The talented Juan Medina will be in the store to talk about and sign her new book, Elena Rides.

Elena wants to ride her bike. She steadies, she readies. She wobbles, she bobbles . . . KA-BANG! Learning to ride a bike is hard. But Elena can do it. She just has to try, try again. With this reassuring story of childlike persistence, Juana Medina, creator of the acclaimed Juana & Lucas series, introduces Elena, a plucky elephant, and the little red bird who is Elena's faithful cheerleader. Simple, energetic text and bold, brilliant artwork convey a relatable tale of the ups and downs of learning something new (not without protest or tears) and the final thrill of mastery that will have children rooting for Elena and ready for her next adventure.

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She is the author and illustrator of multiple children’s books, including the chapter book series Juana & Lucas, winner of the prestigious Pura Belpré Award and two International Latino Book Awards. The New York Times says of Juana & Lucas “Medina’s beautiful, vivid prose conjures the Colombian setting with tactile language… the story itself is a giant hug.” Juana’s passion for storytelling has led her to work on exciting projects—ranging from illustration and animation to interactive design—with numerous clients, among them the Library of Congress, Apple, and PBS, as well as publishers such as Candlewick Press, Chronicle Books, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Juana is an Assistant Professor at George Mason University’s School of Art. She enjoys visiting schools and libraries around the country, encouraging children to read and find power in their own personal stories. Juana lives with her wife and twin sons in Northern Virginia.