Karen Valentin is an award-winning American writer who is proud of her Puerto Rican heritage. She is the author of several books for children, including What Did Abuela Say? and Block Party. She is also the author of a young adult novel, The Summer She Changed Her Name. Karen has also published several books for adults, including a memoir, The Mother God Made Me to Be, awarded Best Parenting/Family Book in 2016 by The International Latino Book Awards.

An avid traveler who speaks three languages--English, Spanish, and French--she taught English as a second language in France after earning a bachelor of arts in English literature from Fordham University.