Virginia Padilla-Vigil was born and raised in northern New Mexico and is a lifelong educator. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education, her master's degree in counseling from the College of Santa Fe, and her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico. She has a deep passion for teaching. She served as an elementary teacher for 6 years in the Pojoaque Valley Schools and has taught for over 25 years in colleges and universities across New Mexico and Colorado, in counseling, leadership, and teacher education. Her childhood dream was to write and publish a children's book. Mariposa, Where Did You Get Your Colors? is a story that captures the essence of possibility and the role that significant adults can play in children's lives through helping them discover their gifts and talents (their colors) and encouraging them to share them with the world. It is also a story of diversity and the many colors we bring to our world, creating a rich tapestry of strength, unity, and collective wisdom.