Born in El Salvador, Jorge immigrated to San Francisco, California in 1980. He is a prize-winning poet and author of many bilingual children’s books and poetry books.

His first book for Children’s Book Press, A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada, received numerous awards including the 2002 Américas Book Award for Latin American Literature, the IPPY Award for Multicultural Fiction–Juvenile/Young Adults, and the Skipping Stones Honor Award for Multicultural and International Books.

Jorge’s books have been published by pretigious editorial houses in Canada (Groundwood Books), the United States (Children’s Book Press) and Spain (Alfaguara). His books have been beautifully illustrated by well-known Latin- American illustrators.

Jorge makes presentations and holds poetry workshops throughout the United States and Central America – in public and private schools, universities, cultural centers, community centers, museums, festivals, hospitals and youth guidance centers.

In 2009, he was invited to participate in the John F. Kennedy Multicultural Book Festival in Washington, DC.

Jorge is active in the cultural life of the city in which he resides and also works with humanitarian organizations to assist families and children in El Salvador.

Jorge Argueta is also the Director of “Talleres de Poesia” a literary organization based in the US, that launched and organized the First Annual Children’s Poetry Festival in El Salvador (November 2010).

“Elizabeth Schlessman, an elementary teacher uses the poetry of Jorge Argueta to help students express their feelings about leaving one country for another”. From article that appeared on Rethinking Schools website, June 2010: www.rethinkingschools.org/index.shtml

Children’s Books (Bilingual):

2001: A Movie in my Pillow

2003: Zipitio

2003: Trees are Hanging from the Sky

2003: Xochitl and the Flowers

2004: The Perfect Pair

2005: Moony Luna

2006: Talking with Mother Earth

2006: The Hen in the City

2006: The Fiesta of the Tortillas

2007: Alfredito Flies Home

2009: Bean Soup, A Cooking Poem ( 1of 4 in series)

2010: Rice Pudding, A Cooking Poem ( 2 of 4 in series)

Awards

Named Poet Laureate, San Francisco Public Libraries

Received the Americas Book Award for A Movie in my Pillow, presented at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. This book also received the IPPY Award for Multicultural Fiction Juvenile/ Young Adults, and the Skipping Stones Honor Award for Multicultural and International Books.

Received the National Parenting Publications, Gold Medal Award for Moony Luna.

Talking to Mother Earth received the International Latino Book Award – for Best Bilingual Book. Also won The Americas Book Award, Bank Street Children’s Library Book of the Year and Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. Talking to Mother Earth was also selected for the “Lion and Unicorn Honor Book for Excellence in North American Poetry”.

Receieved the Americas Book Award for Alfredito Flies Home.

Xochitl and the Flowers is selected as one of the best children’s bilingual books.

Bean Soup is selected to be part of the USBBY International Honor List and Junior Library Guild List.

Jorge received the IP Award– an independent award for children’s multicultural books.

Other Publications (Bilingual):

1983: Founded The Black Sheep – a literary and art periodical

1984: Founded United Salvadoran Editors – a Latin-American writers association and publisher

1985: Stars in a Well by Claudia Lars – translated and edited by Jorge Argueta; published by United Salvadoran Editors

1986: Published first poetry book, From Sundown to Dawn; various poems selected for Hinkle Anthology, Voices in Literature

1987: Various Poems selected for Berkeley Poets and Writers Anthology

1990: Published The Devil’s Door, United Salvadoran Editors

1991: Published Love Street/Poems, Tiki Bob Publishing

1994: Published Barrio Poems, Manic D Press

1996: Various Poems selected for We are Here, We are There; also published Jealousy, Endless Love

1997: Published Fruits from the Center and Other Flavors, Canterbury Press

1998: Published Painting Shadows (with Theresa Kennett); founded Luna Press

1999: Various Poems selected for book publisher City Lights Anthology

2000: Records a selection of poems for book publisher Hampton Brown