AUTHOR • ARTIST • STORYTELLER
Spirit Animal
Stories
The Wild Imagination Collectionis a collection of magical tales inspired by the brilliant colors and fantastical forms of Mexican alebrije art. Across enchanted meadows, ancestral forests, marigold gardens, and distant savannahs, extraordinary animal guardians help young characters confront fear, grief, self-doubt, and grief.
MEET AUTHOR
An Author, Artist & Keeper of Imaginative Worlds
Ana I. Gutiérrez
Ana is a retired middle school principal, educator, artist, and children’s author whose work reflects her lifelong commitment to helping young people discover their strengths, imagination, and sense of belonging. Her years in education deepened her understanding of children’s emotional worlds and the importance of stories that nurture courage, compassion, curiosity, and hope. She is married to Leonard Gutierrez, and together they have two daughters: Olivia, 34, who is married to Jesús Vaquerano, and Leani, 32. She also resides with two sweet cats, Roxie and Coco.
In retirement, Ana has united her passions for art and storytelling. Her vibrant, alebrije-inspired animal paintings celebrate color, nature, and imagination and serve as the foundation for her magical children’s stories. Through Spirit Stories: The Wild Imagination Collection, she explores kindness, identity, memory, transformation, and belonging, reflecting her belief that imagination and storytelling can help children see themselves and the world around them in new and meaningful ways.
"A beautiful blend of art, culture, and heart. These stories remind us of the magic we carry within."
"- Early Reader Review"
The Wild Imagination Collection
Spirit Animal Stories
Ana I. Gutiérrez
The Wild Imagination Collectionis a collection of magical tales inspired by the brilliant colors and fantastical forms of Mexican alebrije art. Across enchanted meadows, ancestral forests, marigold gardens, and distant savannahs, extraordinary animal guardians help young characters confront fear, grief, self-doubt, and grief. Whether awakening a lost fire of imagination, discovering the memories carried in color, finding comfort after loss, or standing against the gray forces that silence creativity, each story reveals a world in which nature, animals, and human hearts are deeply connected.
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