Faculty Member Jacqueline Alcántara Partners with Justice Sonia Sotomayor on New Children’s Book
The cover of "Just Shine!: How To Be A Better You" by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by faculty member Jacqueline Alcántara. 
Justice Sonia Sotomayor drew inspiration for the book’s title from a line in Homer about the moon, connecting it to the way her mother brightened the lives of those around her.
Jacqueline Alcántara, award-winning illustrator and adjunct professor of illustration at , has created acclaimed children’s books including “The Field,” “Freedom Soup,” and “Your Mama,” and brings her passion for diversity in storytelling to both her publishing and teaching.illustrator and School of Visual Arts faculty member Jacqueline Alcántara has teamed up with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on a new children’s book, "."
The book tells the story of a young girl in Puerto Rico who helps others see their own brilliance—an allegory inspired by Justice Sotomayor’s mother. With vibrant illustrations by Alcántara, "Just Shine" encourages young readers to discover their inner glow and recognize the beauty in those around them.
Bringing A Personal Story to Life
Alcántara says she approached the project with reverence. “This project felt different to me because I was helping to honor the life of Sotomayor’s mother and I wanted to make their love shine through,” she says.
Justice Sotomayor shared the inspiration behind the book on a recent appearance on “The View.” “After my mother passed, I started to think often about all the things she had taught me. Everything I understood about how to treat people, how to make others feel important, came from her. That lesson is one every child should know and every parent should realize—you set the example and you are the ones who teach.”
She added that a line from Homer about the moon helped inspire the title. “The moon shines by taking the light from the sun. At night it gives back that reflection to us. My mother shone in the world because she made everybody around her feel important. The book is trying to teach people how to do that.”
Inspiring The Next Generation
For Alcántara, who was pregnant while working on the project, the story also sparked personal reflection. “It being about a little Sonia observing her mother and the beautiful way she cared for others made me think about what values I want to consciously pass on to my own daughter,” she says.
Justice Sotomayor emphasized the importance of publishing the book in both Spanish and English. “Nearly 30% of children in public schools across the United States speak Spanish,” she says. “It was essential that this book, like all my books, be published in both languages to ensure children always have access in the language they know first.”
An award-winning illustrator, Alcántara’s work has been recognized by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book as Best of the Year. She brings that same passion for storytelling into the classroom at , where she has taught since 2020. She often emphasizes process, research, and experimentation with her students, encouraging them to let “the story lead the style.”
On September 20, Alcántara will join Justice Sotomayor at the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center for a sold-out discussion of “Just Shine,” co-sponsored by Viva Los Libros.
“Having a faculty member illustrate a book by a U.S. Supreme Court Justice underscores the reach of talent,” says School of Visual Arts director Duncan MacKenzie. “It’s inspiring for our students to see their professor making an impact on national and international stages.”
For Alcántara, the project is both a milestone and a reminder of why she creates. “Until I discovered that illustration was a career, I felt inclined to creating art but could not see myself as an artist because I did not know what I wanted to say with my work,” she says. “Through illustration and storytelling I’ve found that I do have a lot to say, and each project is a chance to share that with the world.”