Janet Balletta, Educator &
Award Winning Author
Mermaid Mission:
To inspire children to develop a passion for reading bilingual and multicultural literature using Mermaid & Pirate legends and other fictional works to promote dual language education and raise environmental awareness.
Award Winning Author
Mermaid Mission:
To inspire children to develop a passion for reading bilingual and multicultural literature using Mermaid & Pirate legends and other fictional works to promote dual language education and raise environmental awareness.
About Me:
I am a mother, K-2 bilingual teacher, and author of three children's books with good values. In November 2013, I published my first children's book, The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid. It was my favorite bedtime story as a child, and I cherished hearing my mother tell the story. It teaches a strong message of obedience, family values, and cultural traditions. In June 2015, The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid won the Mariposa Award from the International Latino Book Awards for Best First Book. The book was translated into Spanish as La Leyenda de la Sirena Colombiana by Maritza M. Mejia. It was also a finalist in the 2015 Christian Literary Awards. In June 2016, the book won 1st place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards from Five Star Publications for Cultural Diversity.
In September 2015, I published my second children's book, The Legend of Roberto Of Cofresi - A Puerto Rican Hero, a pirate story. It was another childhood favorite story my father shared with me. In June 2016, The Legend of Robert Cofresi - A Puerto Rican Hero won the International Latino Book Award for Best Latino Focused Children's Book. It was translated into Spanish as La Leyenda de Roberto Cofresi - Un héreo de Puerto Rico by Ana Morris. In September 2017, it won 1st place in the International Latino Book Awards for best translation. It teaches a strong message of generosity, loyalty, and cultural traditions.
In February 2018, I published my third children's book, Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans. I was inspired to write this book based on events that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. In June 2018, it won the International Latino Book Award for Best Educational Themed Book and 1st place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards for Best Green/Environmental E-book. This story teaches a strong message on environmental awareness, water pollution, and conservation of our blue planet. It also motivates children to care about the oceans as a habitat and natural resource for people, animals, and plants.
My goal is to inspire children to develop a passion for reading bilingual and multicultural literature to preserve the Hispanic culture, celebrate the Hispanic-American experience, and become environmentally savvy world-class citizens of our beautiful blue planet.
I am a mother, K-2 bilingual teacher, and author of three children's books with good values. In November 2013, I published my first children's book, The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid. It was my favorite bedtime story as a child, and I cherished hearing my mother tell the story. It teaches a strong message of obedience, family values, and cultural traditions. In June 2015, The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid won the Mariposa Award from the International Latino Book Awards for Best First Book. The book was translated into Spanish as La Leyenda de la Sirena Colombiana by Maritza M. Mejia. It was also a finalist in the 2015 Christian Literary Awards. In June 2016, the book won 1st place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards from Five Star Publications for Cultural Diversity.
In September 2015, I published my second children's book, The Legend of Roberto Of Cofresi - A Puerto Rican Hero, a pirate story. It was another childhood favorite story my father shared with me. In June 2016, The Legend of Robert Cofresi - A Puerto Rican Hero won the International Latino Book Award for Best Latino Focused Children's Book. It was translated into Spanish as La Leyenda de Roberto Cofresi - Un héreo de Puerto Rico by Ana Morris. In September 2017, it won 1st place in the International Latino Book Awards for best translation. It teaches a strong message of generosity, loyalty, and cultural traditions.
In February 2018, I published my third children's book, Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans. I was inspired to write this book based on events that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. In June 2018, it won the International Latino Book Award for Best Educational Themed Book and 1st place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards for Best Green/Environmental E-book. This story teaches a strong message on environmental awareness, water pollution, and conservation of our blue planet. It also motivates children to care about the oceans as a habitat and natural resource for people, animals, and plants.
My goal is to inspire children to develop a passion for reading bilingual and multicultural literature to preserve the Hispanic culture, celebrate the Hispanic-American experience, and become environmentally savvy world-class citizens of our beautiful blue planet.