LeaLA brings four days of authors, art and book selling to LA

The LeaLA Spanish language book fair kicks off Thursday morning at L.A. Plaza de Cultura y Artes next to Olvera Street in downtown L.A.

The four-day event will feature children’s performers and authors speaking about topics ranging from mental health and fanzines to teen development.

Book distributors also will offer a wide variety of books. Panel discussions will include invited authors from Mexico, Chile and the U.S., among other countries. Presenters include participants in a bilingual anthology of poets from the U.S. and Mexico, among them hector son of hector — his writing name.

“Me speaking Spanish here in California is me speaking as an American. If I speak Spanish, that doesn't make me a foreigner,” he said.

He grew up in Long Beach and said the book fair is an important affirm