Today Is My Birthday

Hi, I'm Maria Cookie Carrales, Known to readers as Grandma Cookie! I'm a bilingual, multi-award-winning children's author based in the Rio Grande Valley, writing stories that celebrate family, culture, and the special bond between generations. My books include Spending the Day with My Grandma (written in English), along with my bilingual English–Spanish titles Going Fishing with My Grandpa, Today Is My Birthday, and Eva Becomes a Marine. These stories are written to bring families closer together and give children a mirror to see their own culture and language celebrated on the page. I also bring my stories to life through interactive school visits, where I blend storytelling, student participation, and hands-on activities in both English and Spanish. Each visit is customized to fit the school's grade levels and goals. Through South Texas Book an Author, I also connect fellow authors with schools, libraries, corporations, and community organizations across the region.