María Retana was born in Cuba. She received her B.A. in Spanish and Comparative Literature from the University of California, Riverside. She is the author of more than twenty published bilingual children's books. In December 2008, the International Reading Association and the Cochise Area Council awarded Mrs. Retana her first literary award. Mrs. Retana has published picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels. The results include four bilingual series: Isabella & Chloe Bilingual Series, Miles & Lee Bilingual Series, Cuba Bilingual Series, and the Southwest Wildlife Bilingual Series. She lives with her husband, Guillermo, in Tucson, AZ.
Miles Last was born in Tucson, AZ in 2011. At the age of seven he joined his grandma, María Retana, and together they wrote the second bilingual children's book in the Miles & Lee Bilingual Series, titledMiles & Lee Save The Monarch Butterflies/Miles & Lee salvan las mariposas monarcas.In Kindergarten, he wrote his fantasy story. He enjoys reading, filming short films, and watching movies. Miles is a freshman in high school, plays rugby, and practices karate. On March 1, 2024, Miles won third place in the Optimist International Essay Contest titled "Optimism: How It Connects Us." sponsored by the Rincón Optimist Club in Tucson, AZ. He lives in Tucson, Arizona with his parents and little brother Lee.
Salva Ferrando is a Spanish illustrator, born in the City of Valencia in 1966. Self-taught, he has accomplished much in more than twenty years of his professional career illustrating books and other publications for well-known Spanish publishing houses. He has illustrated iPad apps, comic books and storyboards for film and other media. In the past few years, he has also worked for US and Australian customers. Mr. Ferrando invites you to visit his website at
