I’ve always believed that creativity begins with the stories we grow up with. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I was surrounded by vibrant colors, rich traditions, and a deep love for storytelling. Spanish is my first language, and it continues to shape the rhythm, warmth, and spirit of everything I create.
My career blends three creative paths — author, illustrator, and architect. Architecture taught me how to design spaces with intention, while storytelling and illustration allow me to fill those spaces with imagination and life.
Growing up in Arecibo
I grew up in Arecibo, on the north coast of Puerto Rico, the youngest of three in a middle-class family. At home I learned the value of dedication and hard work — and to always dream big.
Drawing has been my passion since I was very little. My mother made sure my siblings and I stayed busy with sports, music, art, and scouting. And after all of it — after school, after practice, after every activity — I would come home and reach for a pencil, and spend hours building and imagining worlds of my own on paper.
Scouting opened up the rest of the island to me. On camping trips I saw the beauty of my tropical home up close — the green of the mountains, the rivers, the birds singing in the trees — and those colors have stayed with me ever since. It also taught me that big things get built one small, patient step at a time. I didn’t know it yet, but that’s exactly how a picture book gets made.
From blueprints to picture books
In 2005 I began studying architecture at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. After graduating, I spent a season in New York City gaining experience in the field, then returned home to Puerto Rico, where I worked in industrial and pharmaceutical architecture.
A few years later, I wanted to see more of my own designs come to life, so I moved to Texas — and there I finally got to watch my ideas become real buildings.
How did The Bird in the Egg begin?
In my time off, I picked up my pencils and brushes again, and an idea wouldn’t leave me alone: I wanted to write a book for children. Not just write it — I wanted to illustrate every page myself and learn how a book is printed and published from start to finish. I spent the next three years doing exactly that, working nights and weekends to make something special for kids. That book became The Bird in the Egg.
Why does D.G. Alonso make books?
My Puerto Rican heritage is at the heart of my work. I want to create stories where every child can feel seen, inspired, and brave enough to dream in their own way — books that spark curiosity, nurture creativity, and give children and the grown-ups who read with them a reason to slow down and share a moment.
I hope my stories find a place in your home — and in your child’s imagination — bringing joy and a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.
— D.G. Alonso
What is The Bird in the Egg?
My first picture book, published in November 2025. It won the Silver Medal for Best First Book – Picture Book at the 2026 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and was named an Editor’s Pick by The Children’s Book Review.
BirdBulb
BirdBulb is the name I publish my books under. Its motto — Spark ideas. Read. Grow. — is the idea behind every story: a small spark of curiosity that grows into something bigger.
Press kit and the architect behind the books
Facts, bios and images are in the press kit. For how my architecture work shapes my pages, read Why an Architect Makes Picture Books.
Short bio for press and events
D.G. Alonso is a Puerto Rican–born author, illustrator, and architect based in Texas. Raised in Arecibo, he studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico before designing industrial and pharmaceutical facilities in Puerto Rico and buildings in Texas. His debut picture book, The Bird in the Egg (2025), which he wrote and illustrated, won the Silver Medal for Best First Book – Picture Book at the 2026 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and was named an Editor’s Pick by The Children’s Book Review. He publishes under the name BirdBulb.
Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, many classrooms and libraries look for books by Hispanic and Latino authors. Here’s a picture book by a Puerto Rican author for Hispanic Heritage Month.
School and library visits
I’m available for read-alouds and talks about how a picture book is written and illustrated. The teacher’s guide has activities to use before or after a visit. See school and library visits or ask about a visit.