Do you have a favorite Tia? Well, I sure do. My Tia is the kind of person who lets everyone hang out at her house after school. She keeps us all busy, and out of trouble. As you can imagine, Tia's house was a very busy place. It's also the place where we learned to make tamales. Yes, I said tamales. You see, Tia wasn't just the neighborhood babysitter; she was also the neighborhood Tamale Maker. So, I bet you are wondering what her secret recipe was, and why this story is called Tia's Tamale Trouble. Well, we all had a hand in that.... *** Julianna Maya Cruz, has been teaching in Riverside, CA for fifteen years and has found her inspiration to write childrens' books from living life as a mother and teacher. She writes to show others that everyone has a story to share. Julianna has written, The Tale of Tommy and Teresa Trout: A Learning Journey from Egg to Fry, Dos Chiles, Two Chilies, and Tia's Tamale Troubles. She currently teaches at Bryant Elementary School of Arts & Innovation, in Riverside, CA and is always looking for a new story to help her students make connections."