¡Vamos a celebrar Raúl the Third!
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On a recent Friday morning, one hundred and forty 4th and 5th graders watched intently as children’s book creator Raúl the Third methodically drew one of the first cartoon characters he ever learned to copy.
“Pedro Picapiedra!” someone yelled, identifying Fred Flinstone by his Spanish name, which translates literally to Fred Breaks-Stone.
“Fred Flintstone was one of the first characters I learned how to draw. And I was so proud of myself when I figured it out,” Raúl told the students. “I remember one day my mom asked me to draw Frankenstein, and I didn't know how to draw Frankenstein but I knew how to draw Fred Flintstone; so I added some stitches to him.”
In addition to learning the basics of drawing from cartoons, library books, and comics, Raúl shared how growing up in El Paso, Texas and neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico inspires his work.
“So people ask me, why do you write your books in English and Spanish?” Raúl said. “Well, when I was a little kid, me and my two brothers, we grew up speaking Spanish and we would cross the bridge together holding hands. And we also grew up speaking English. And every once in again, we would speak English and Spanish simultaneously.”
Since publishing his authorial debut in 2019, Raúl has become a leading creator of bilingual books that celebrate the Mexican-American experience.
To celebrate his latest book, Tough Times, The Rabbit hOle hosted three events with Raúl including a field trip presentation; an adult program with fellow graphic novelist, Pedro Martín; and a family event with a letterpress luchador printmaking workshop.
Throughout all three events, which took place March 13 and 14, Raúl emphasized that when you're creating a story or drawing characters, one of the best places to begin is with yourself.
“The reason why I'm always telling students that they should look within themselves to create stories and characters is because I know that there are so many other American experiences that have not yet been represented in picture books or in books in general.”
Raúl has won and been honored with the Pura Belpré Award four times. This prestigious award recognizes Latino/Latina authors and illustrators whose children’s and young adult books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
Walking into The Rabbit hOle’s Pura Belpré exhibit, he was moved to see one of his books next to a book by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
As a young adult, Raúl was unsure about pursuing a career as an artist until he saw Sáenz speak at his local Barnes and Noble. Almost 30 years later, Raúl received a call from Sáenz’s editor to inquire about collaborating on a picture book together.
“That book comes out this year,” Raúl said. “So it was a pretty interesting, full circle moment.”
As part of his visit, Raúl collaborated with The Rabbit hOle to help launch our second annual limited edition print series featuring original illustrations from the museum’s visiting artists in 2026. This year’s series is built around the theme “Reading is Reinvention.”
“‘Reading Is Reinvention’ positions reading not as passive consumption, but as an intentional, transformative act,” said Devin Goebel, The Rabbit hOle’s Print Shop Manager. “Through this print project, we invite artists to consider the power of books
to reinvent both self and society.”
In the spirit of a self-portrait by comic artist John Romita Jr., Raúl drew himself surrounded by all of the characters he has created.
“In this print… I’m thinking about reading comic books as a kid and how that inspired me to want to draw,” Raúl said. “You never know how a book is going to impact you or a drawing is going to impact you. And I know for me, it allowed my imagination to just wander and it made me want to create books.”
Raúl the Third’s Reading is Reinvention Print is available for purchase at Lucky Rabbit Books and online at rabbitholekc.org/shop.
