At the front of a classroom, Janet Skrzypek gathers the rapt attention of all her students with the sound of a book opening, a page turning, and her gentle voice reading both Spanish and English in her children’s books. Language learning can be an intimidating process for young students, but Skrzypek makes it grounded, engaging, and simple.

Award-winning independent author-editor and educator Skrzypek brings together storytelling, language learning, and cultural understanding in her bilingual children’s books. Her acclaimed title, The Llama That Wanted to Spit on Me / La Llama que Quería Escupirme, was recognized as the 2026 Independent Press Award Winner in the Children’s-Bilingual category, https://www.independentpressaward.com/2026-winners/9798992041514, earning praise for its captivating storytelling promoting respect for animals and their habitats. Her writing aims to entertain young readers while expanding their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension in both English and Spanish.

                     ***Book Signing at ALA Chicago, Booth 4722***

Skrzypek is uniquely equipped to tell these stories with her variety of educational backgrounds. She received her Master’s in Child Studies from Linköping University in Sweden, her Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from American Public University in the United States, and an ELE (Español como Lengua Extranjera / Spanish as a Foreign Language) certification from Ricardo Palma University in Peru. Additionally, she is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and she teaches French and Spanish at Saint Peter School (K-8th).

“As a French and Spanish teacher, I discovered my path to authorship in the classroom, where I also found my voice,” Skrzypek says. “My students’ enthusiasm for my stories, inspired by my multicultural experiences, travels, and small moments that reveal big truths, motivated me to write bilingual English-Spanish stories.”

Since childhood, she has experienced the transformative power of books firsthand—the power language has to open doors for people. As a result, she became an active member and contributor to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and Secretary of the ACTFL Teaching and Learning of Culture Special Interest Group. She has donated her books to public schools and cultural centers in remote areas of Peru and contributed to second language learning efforts around the world.

Skrzypek is a global-minded educator with a singular goal: to uplift every student she encounters.

The Llama That Wanted to Spit on Me / La Llama que Quería Escupirme is not her only title which has inspired readers. Her other titles include The Dragonfly Visit / La Visita de la Libélula, The Man Who Traded Chicken Eggs for Bottles / El Señor que Intercambiaba Huevos de Pollo por Botellas, and Henrietta the Little Hen and the Duck’s Eggs / La Gallinita Enriqueta y los Huevos de la Pata.

Skrzypek works as both an author and an educator to foster empathy and curiosity for the world while encouraging student passion for reading and language. Her books invite children to imagine a sustainable world built on kindness and shared responsibility one story at a time.