Miami Children's Storytelling Festival 2025 Recap

This year, we welcomed 13 talented kids to the 3rd Miami Children’s Storytelling Festival. This 10-week program encouraged them to use their imagination and creativity to the fullest. They learned how to create a story, illustrate it, build props, and do a final performance telling their stories in a theater in front of an audience.

They found inspiration everywhere, and we heard 13 original stories that transported us to their imagination. There were stories about pirates, families, and animals, some influenced by Greek mythology and some with a touch of comedy, adventure, mystery, and more.

In the words of Trina Oropeza, Art Teacher and COO of IMAGO POR LAS ARTES, after quoting Dalí, "We don't look for perfection, we seek for moments that transform" when giving the welcome speech to the audience that gathered to enjoy our Storytellers' performance.

She also mentioned the challenges these wonderful kids face throughout this program and how they excelled at doing it. They come to think, write, and speak in Spanish -not necessarily their first language. They learn teamwork as they support each other, explore their creativity and imagination, and learn about public speaking and stage performance. They also build friendships that might last a lifetime.

Some participants have been coming to this program since its inception, and this is their third time with us. It's just amazing to see their growth, evolution, and transformation. All the kids have a before-and-after with this program. Their spoken and written Spanish gets better every time, their artistic skills improve, and their posture and attitude when they perform will amaze you.

Here we present to you the 2025 Class of the Miami Children's Storytelling Festival and their stories -+ a synopsis- in order of performance:

Zoe V. Quiñones. 11 years old.

El jardín mágico- The Magic Garden.

Carmela and Lila love their grandmother's garden, where plants talk, and the wise tree shares its thoughts. But when the magic disappears, they must go on a mission to restore it. Can they save their enchanted garden before it's too late?

Luca Acosta. 10 years old.

El hilo de María - Maria's Thread.

Alecto, a hamster with a dark secret, lives with María, a 105-year-old woman. But when María's fate hangs by a thread, Alecto must make an impossible decision that will change their lives forever. Will she defy her nature to save the only person who has ever loved her?

Lilly Mejer. 9 years old.  

Coyotes en la ciudad—Coyotes in the City.

A coyote family is forced out of their forest home and ends up in the city, causing panic. Only Isa, a curious little girl, dares to approach them and become their friend. Will the coyotes find a new home among humans?

Elvira Pares. 10 years old.

La edad dorada - The Golden Age.

Bibi, assistant to Queen Eloísa, faces an unexpected crisis when pirates kidnap the young monarch. With courage and wit, she must rescue her and restore peace to the kingdom. Will she succeed before it's too late?

Elisa Colella. 11 years old.

¡¡¡Los tickets falsos!!! - The Fake Tickets!!!

Josefina and Juana buy tickets for a soccer match, only to discover they are fake. Determined to see the game, they come up with a plan to sneak into the stadium. But their mischief soon lands them in big trouble. How will they get out of this mess?

Sasha E. Hernández. 10 years old.

Dimensión - Dimension.

Charlotte and Elena take on a dare that leads them to an abandoned house. What starts as a game becomes a terrifying experience when they step through a mysterious mirror and end up in an unknown dimension. Will they find their way back home?

Emma Lucía Ferro. 8 years old.

La Medusa - Medusa.

Before becoming the mythical creature we know, Medusa was a goddess searching for friendship and beauty. But a poorly chosen wish and Aphrodite's betrayal led to her tragic fate. Discover the untold story behind the legend.

Alana Bozo. 10 years old.

La niña y la hormiga - The Girl and the Ant

Kika finds an ant and decides to care for it until it becomes a butterfly… except the ant doesn't want to change. Their unlikely friendship is tested over the years, proving that sometimes, what matters most is not transformation but acceptance.

Caterina Sore Reyes. 10 years old.

La caja llena de ideas - The Box Full of Ideas.

Cleo loves to paint, but one day, she finds her idea box completely empty. With the help of her friends, she embarks on a journey to refill it, proving that inspiration can be found anywhere. Will she complete her masterpiece in time?

Adrián Echazu Lewis. 10 years old.

El Pica pica - The Spicy Bite.

Héctor and his friends travel to Monterrey and try a jalapeño spicier than expected. With their mouths on fire, they desperately search for a way to cool down. Between laughter and lessons, they discover the real cure for spiciness.

Julieta Sánchez. 9 years old.

La misión del pez - The Fish's Mission.

Molly, a fish who dreams of flying like her hummingbird friend, embarks on an incredible adventure to change her destiny. With the help of a whale and a list of magical ingredients, she learns that wishes can come true… but not without effort.

Guillermo Bozo. 10 years old.

Samuel y el deseo - Samuel and the Wish.

Samuel, a strawberry with big dreams, is granted the chance to transform into a magical creature. But first, he must complete six challenging missions that take him to the underworld, Troy, and beyond. Is he willing to pay the price for his wish?

Lucía Segovia. 8 years old.

Mi sueño - My Dream.

Manu wakes up and discovers she has turned into her cat, Juli. Desperate, she seeks help from a wizard who gives her a difficult mission to regain her human form. But what if it was all just a dream… or maybe not?

Facilitators:

• Mónica Quintero – Theater Teacher

• Saúl Mauricio Mendoza – Theater Teacher

• Trina Oropeza – Art Teacher

• Cecila Sosa – Assistant Art Teacher

The 3rd Miami Children's Storytelling Festival Show took place Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the NJB Cultural Center in Doral, FL.

Here is a sneak peek of the show:

What a fantastic edition! We keep growing and impacting more people in our community. This program directly impacted 82 people -including kids and adults-with an indirect impact of 259 people.

We can't wait to welcome returning and new Storytellers in 2026. To learn more about this program, click here.