Spanish-Language Children’s Book Writer (Volunteer)

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward. , Spanish-Language Children’s Book Writer (Volunteer) PromisePages | Children’s Literature, Spanish-Language Storytelling & Publishing Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP) Division PromisePages Location Fully Remote — United States Type Volunteer Creative Writing & Publishing Role Commitment Approximately 5–10 hours per week Minimum Commitment 6 months Reports To PromisePages Leadership Works Closely With Children’s Book Writers, Editors, Illustrators, Educational Writers, Proofreaders, PromiseLearning, PromiseStudios, and other creative collaborators About Mentor A Promise Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, literacy, social-emotional learning, creative expression, career development, advocacy, and community-centered opportunity. Through PromisePages, MAP creates literature and educational works that invite young people to imagine, explore, laugh, question, learn, and see possibility. We believe children deserve stories created with the same imagination, literary quality, and care expected of great literature for any audience. About PromisePages PromisePages is MAP’s literature, publishing, illustration, editorial, and educational works division. Our creative process can bring together Idea → Story Development → Writing → Illustration → Editing → Proofing → Design → Publication → Young Readers The Spanish-Language Children’s Book Writer helps expand this work by developing original stories written authentically for Spanish-speaking and bilingual children and families. Role Overview MAP is seeking a creative Spanish-Language Children’s Book Writer to develop engaging, imaginative, and culturally thoughtful stories for young readers. This is not simply a translation role. We are looking for someone who can think, imagine, and tell stories naturally in Spanish. Depending on the project, writers may develop original Spanish-language works, collaborate on bilingual publications, or help thoughtfully adapt existing concepts for Spanish-speaking audiences. A successful children's story should do more than deliver a lesson. It should make a child want to turn the page. Children’s Story Development Develop original stories for children and young readers across appropriate age groups. Projects may include Picture booksIllustrated children's storiesShort storiesEarly-reader materialsBilingual booksEducational storiesYouth-centered literary projectsCharacter-driven storiesImaginative and fantastical storiesSocial-emotional narrativesStories exploring community, friendship, identity, belonging, creativity, family, possibility, and everyday childhood experiences Help develop Concept → Character → World → Conflict → Discovery → Resolution → Meaning The lesson should emerge from the story rather than overwhelm it. Spanish-Language Storytelling Write Spanish that feels natural, engaging, expressive, and appropriate for the intended reader. Consider rhythm, dialogue, humor, vocabulary, readability, voice, cultural context, and the experience of reading a story aloud. Spanish is spoken across many countries, communities, and cultures. Writers should approach linguistic and cultural differences thoughtfully rather than assuming there is only one universally correct way for every character to speak. When a project requires broadly accessible Spanish, work collaboratively to determine the appropriate linguistic approach. Bilingual Story Development Contribute to bilingual English-Spanish projects when appropriate. Help ensure bilingual works feel intentionally created for both audiences rather than treating one language as an afterthought. English Story ↔ Spanish Story The goal is not always word-for-word equivalence. The goal is to preserve meaning, character, emotion, humor, rhythm, and reading experience. Write for Children, Not Around Them Understand the developmental level and interests of the intended audience without underestimating young readers. Children's literature can be funny. Strange. Quiet. Adventurous. Emotional. Unexpected. Beautiful. A children's book does not need to become a lecture simply because the organization behind it has a mission. Young readers deserve stories first. Characters & Worlds Develop characters children can care about and worlds they want to enter. Characters should have personalities, desires, mistakes, humor, curiosity, contradictions, and agency. Children experiencing housing instability should never be reduced to their circumstances. Housing status is something a young person may experience. It is not the entirety of who they are. Collaboration With Illustrators Work collaboratively with PromisePages illustrators to develop stories in which words and images complement one another. A picture book should not require the illustration to simply repeat everything already written on the page. Words can tell one part of the story. Illustrations can tell another. Together, they create the reading experience. Respect illustrators as storytelling collaborators—not decorators. Editorial Collaboration Participate fully in PromisePages' editorial process Concept → Outline → Draft → Developmental Review → Revision → Editorial Review → Illustration Integration → Proofreading → Final Manuscript Receive editorial feedback thoughtfully and revise manuscripts when necessary. Editing should strengthen the work without erasing the writer's voice. Educational & Social-Emotional Content Some PromisePages projects may explore literacy, education, emotional development, mentorship, creativity, accessibility, community, or other themes connected to MAP's mission. When educational objectives are involved, collaborate with PromiseLearning and relevant subject-matter experts. A writer should not have to turn a story into a textbook to make it meaningful. Cultural Authenticity & Representation Approach cultures, communities, identities, and family experiences with curiosity, humility, and care. Avoid stereotypes, tokenism, unnecessary assumptions, and treating Spanish-speaking communities as culturally interchangeable. When writing outside your own lived experience, be prepared to research, listen, collaborate, and revise. Representation should deepen the story—not simply decorate it. Youth Dignity & Ethical Storytelling MAP's work with children and families requires particular care. Writers should never use identifiable experiences of MAP youth or families without appropriate organizational authorization, consent, privacy protections, and safeguarding review. A child's hardship should never become raw material simply because it could create an emotional story. Young people are people before they are characters. Original Story Development Writers are encouraged to bring ideas. Pitch original characters, concepts, worlds, themes, and story possibilities that could contribute to the PromisePages publishing portfolio. Not every idea will become a book. But every strong publishing program needs people willing to imagine what could. Qualifications Strong candidates should demonstrate Strong Spanish-language writing abilityExcellent storytelling and creative-writing skillsUnderstanding of children's literature or a strong desire to learnAbility to write naturally for young audiencesStrong command of grammar, voice, dialogue, and narrative structureAbility to receive and incorporate editorial feedbackCreativity and imaginationCultural awareness and sensitivityStrong collaboration and communicationReliability and consistent follow-throughRespect for youth dignity, privacy, and safeguardingAlignment with MAP's mission and valuesResidence in the United States Professional Publication Experience Is Welcomed But Not Required. Emerging writers with exceptional storytelling ability are encouraged to apply. Preferred Experience Experience in one or more of the following is especially valuable Children's literaturePicture booksSpanish-language publishingBilingual literatureCreative writingEarly-reader contentEducational publishingLiteracyEditingStory developmentWriting for children or youthLatin American, Latino/a/e, Hispanic, Caribbean, or other Spanish-speaking literary and cultural traditions Native or near-native Spanish proficiency is strongly preferred. English proficiency sufficient for collaboration within MAP's multidisciplinary teams is also valuable. What Success Looks Like Stories feel written for children rather than organizations. Spanish feels natural rather than mechanically translated. Characters have agency and personality. Bilingual projects respect both languages. Writers and illustrators collaborate effectively. Editorial feedback strengthens manuscripts. Cultural differences are approached thoughtfully. Projects move from promising ideas toward completed manuscripts. Young people can recognize pieces of their communities while also discovering worlds completely different from their own. And PromisePages develops Spanish-language literature that MAP would be proud to place in the hands of a child. What You'll Gain This role offers hands-on experience developing children's literature within a collaborative nonprofit publishing environment. Writers may gain experience in story development, children's publishing, bilingual content, editorial collaboration, illustration development, educational publishing, manuscript revision, and multidisciplinary creative production. The opportunity can also provide emerging writers with meaningful portfolio experience while contributing to literature designed for young readers. Why This Role Matters Language can determine whether a child feels invited into a story. But representation is about more than changing English words into Spanish ones. It is hearing dialogue that feels alive. Finding humor that still works. Recognizing something familiar. Discovering something completely new. Meeting a character worth remembering. And reaching the final page wishing there were another. That is the kind of Spanish-language children's literature we want to create. Volunteer Commitment This is an unpaid volunteer position requiring approximately 5–10 hours per week with a minimum six-month commitment. Consistent participation, creative collaboration, communication, and reliable follow-through are essential. Volunteers should provide at least two weeks' notice when ending their service whenever possible. How To Apply Please apply directly through Idealist and submit A current résuméA cover letter describing your interest in Spanish-language children's literature and Mentor A Promise2–3 relevant writing samples in Spanish Children's writing samples are preferred, but strong fiction, creative writing, bilingual, educational, or other literary samples may also be considered. At this time, MAP volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, compliance, and programmatic requirements. Write in Spanish. Think like a storyteller. See the world through a child's curiosity. Create characters worth meeting and worlds worth entering. Collaborate, revise, imagine—and help PromisePages create stories young readers will want to return to again and again.