Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida!
Cristobalito and his soccer ball go everywhere together in his Mexican hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco . . . until an injury leaves him sidelined. Without the ball at his feet, Cristo looks around. Could his grandmother teach him the art of making tamales? Could his sister show him a whole new way of moving, like ballet? What else has he been missing?
Inspired by Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernández's own life, this English-Spanish bilingual book celebrates growth, culture, and courage, exploring themes of being open to change and discovering new passions. Fútbol is Life! is a joyful story about resilience and heart, reminding readers that life has many ways to score . . . and every one of them is worth celebrating.
With the text appearing in both English and Spanish on every page, this bilingual story is perfect for bilingual readers as well as Spanish speakers learning English and vice versa. Young soccer players and Ted Lasso fans alike will love this book!
Cristobalito va con su balón de fútbol a todas partes en su ciudad natal de Guadalajara, en Jalisco, México... hasta que una lesión lo deja fuera de juego. Sin el balón a sus pies, Cristo mira a su alrededor. ¿Podría su abuela enseñarle el arte de hacer tamales? ¿Podría su hermana mostrarle una forma completamente nueva de moverse, como el ballet? ¿Qué más se ha estado perdiendo?
Inspirado en la vida real de Cristo Fernández, el actor de la serie Ted Lasso, este libro bilingüe en inglés y español celebra el desarrollo personal, la cultura y la valentía, explorando temas como la apertura al cambio y el descubrimiento de nuevos pasatiempos. ¡Fútbol es vida! es una animada historia sobre la resiliencia y los sentimientos, que les recuerda a los lectores que en la vida se pueden anotar goles de muchas maneras... y que todas ellas merecen ser celebradas.
Con texto en inglés y español en cada página, este cuento bilingüe es ideal tanto para lectores bilingües como para hispanohablantes que están aprendiendo inglés y viceversa. ¡A los pequeños futbolistas y a los fans de Ted Lasso les encantará este libro!
It all started with an illustration test. Scholastic was looking for the right artist to bring Cristo Fernández’s story to life, and I was one of many Mexican artists considered for the project. My test piece won over both Cristo and the Scholastic team, and that’s how Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida! became mine to illustrate.
From there, I worked closely with Cristo and the Scholastic team. We went through rounds of character revisions until every face felt just right, like Cristo’s own family looking back from the page. Along the way I experimented with new brushes, textures, and ways of lighting and the result is a book I’m truly proud of.
The story follows Cristobalito, a soccer-loving boy in Guadalajara whose whole world is the ball at his feet, until an injury sidelines him. Off the field, he starts to notice everything he’s been missing: the colors of the market, making tamales with Abuelita, even ballet with his sister. My job was to make Guadalajara feel like a real place, from the papel picado strung across the streets and the cathedral spires on the skyline to the warm afternoon light on the pitch. I wanted readers to feel the city the way Cristo remembers it.
Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida! hit shelves on July 7, 2026, a bilingual story told in English and Spanish on every page. Cristo celebrated the launch on the TODAY show, and School Library Journal called it “beautifully illustrated.” When the book came out, Cristo signed my copy with a note I’ll keep forever, ending with ¡Sueña en grande! Dream big. That’s the heart of this book, and I’m proud to have helped bring Cristobalito’s world to life.