Penelope Rivera

Penelope and her brother Josh love to read and draw comics. When Penelope was 8 years old, she made a comic about her, her friend Reese, and Josh. She asked her Dad if he could read it. He read it and it made him laugh! Afterwards, he told her if she could fix up a few things, rewrite it more clearly, and redraw the panels to make it look cleaner, he'd find a way to get it out there so that other kids can enjoy her story. Penelope asked Josh to help her redraw it and that was their 2018 summer break project. After researching how to self publish, her Dad kept his promise and published their first eBook in February 2019. After getting some positive feedback from their first book, Penelope and Josh decided they wanted to make it into a series. So during their 2019 summer break, they wrote and drew their second comic. This time Josh helped out with the story and their Dad was able to publish it by the time school started. The kids got more positive feedback on their second book and even won a reading game contest put on by former Miami Dolphins Running Back Myles Gaskin! Myles said that their second book was "Very Creative." He also told them to "Dream big, anything is possible if you're willing to work for it!" When the Coronavirus pandemic hit and the stay at home order was placed, the kids used it as an opportunity to work on their series. Everyday after virtual school, they would write and draw their third book. It took them 2 months (March and April) to finish it and it was published in May 2020. The kids also gave a shout out to Myles Gaskin in their third book. Thanks Myles! So excited to continue their story, Penelope and Josh went back in the lab and worked on their fourth book. They wrote and illustrated it during their 2020 summer break (June and July) and it was published in August 2020. Book 5 was published August 2021 and their series finale (Book 6) was published October 2022. In 2020, because of the pandemic, they decided to make all their books free to download on Kindle, Apple Books, Nook, & Kobo, so that other kids can have something fun to read at home. Penelope and Josh worked hard on these books. It’s been fulfilling to see the impact this series has had up to this point; with over 7000 downloads, positive comments from readers, and praise from Max Brallier, author of New York Times bestselling series The Last Kids on Earth. Through these comics, Penelope and Josh hope to inspire younger kids to read, draw, or write their own stories.