Monique Maldonado is the author of The Looking List, a children’s book inspired by her love of planning, organization, and helping children build confidence through everyday life skills. As a mother, Monique understands how challenging it can be to teach children how to navigate the world, and she believes storytelling can be a powerful tool for learning and growth. Monique holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College Chicago and a master’s degree in New Media Studies from DePaul University. With more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, she brings a passion for storytelling and creative expression to her work. In addition to writing, Monique is the founder and CEO of Maldina Publishing, an independent publishing company dedicated to helping meaningful stories come to life and amplifying underrepresented voices in the literary world. As a Latina author, she is especially passionate about creating space for diverse stories that reflect the richness of different cultures and experiences. Monique lives with her husband and creative partner, Jaime, and together they are raising their two children.