Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller and curandera who presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty. Her award-winning book, "Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera," has received praise from industry leaders including Padma Lakshmi, Dana Cowin, and Darin Olien.

"Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita," illustrated by Carlos Vélez, is an enchanting story that features the mystery of a grandmother’s secret recipe, a seek-and-find of healing plants, and bilingual words for young readers.

Luna and her little brother, Sol, are out to solve a mystery! They suspect that their grandmother uses magic to create her remedies because she says that she uses a “magic” ingredient. When Luna overhears Nana singing a classic Spanish children’s song about frog tails while cooking the soup, she secretly thinks the frogs are the magic ingredient. The children explore the enchanted garden in search of frogs until it is time to eat, and it is then that Nana reveals the real secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is? This sweet semi-bilingual story includes a seek-and-find of traditional plants used in curanderismo and includes the recipe for Nana’s magic soup.

Ruiz's work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Forbes, Bon Appétit, The List television news magazine, and other outlets. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

"Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita" is available now.

A book signing will take place in the LLX Marketplace immediately after the session.