Dr. Valerie Williams-Sanchez is the creator of the self-published children’s book series, the Cocoa Kids Collection® and a passionate advocate for multicultural literature, self-publishing, and empowerment literacy for readers of all ages. With a PhD in literacy, Dr. Valerie focuses her work, writing, and research on cultural, education/reading, and health literacies. Dr. Valerie is Mom to Lorena, Auntie to Isaiah, and teacher to countless at-risk and special needs kids. ​She also names savoring hot cocoa, drawing and painting, as well as reading and writing creative yarns about "things momentous and mundane in the world of chocolate," among her other passions.