Jenny Lizarraga pushes bilingual literacy through Cinco Books

Jenny Lizarraga, founder and CEO of Cinco Books, is using her Miami-based publishing company to expand access to Spanish- and Portuguese-language children’s books for schools and libraries. Her work centers on bilingual education, representation, and community service across the U.S. and Latin America.

Why it matters: - Jenny Lizarraga is building access to multicultural children’s books in a U.S. market where Spanish- and Portuguese-language titles are still harder for many schools and libraries to source. - Her work links literacy with representation, bilingual education, and community inclusion. - The effort matters for children and families who want books that reflect their languages, cultures, and lived experiences.

What happened: - Jenny Lizarraga, founder and CEO of Cinco Books, is expanding the company’s role in supplying Spanish- and Portuguese-language titles to libraries, schools, and educational institutions. - Lizarraga is based in Miami and has more than 17 years of experience in publishing, international relations, market development, and educational access. - An Influential Women profile highlighted Lizarraga’s work and her broader advocacy for literacy and representation. More information

The details: - Cinco Books curates and supplies children’s literature in Spanish and Portuguese. - The company works with libraries, schools, and educational institutions that need books for diverse communities. - Lizarraga’s background includes engineering, economics, finance, and digital marketing. - She earned an MBA in Corporate Finance from Florida International University’s College of Business. - She studied Digital Marketing at Northwestern University. - She earned an industrial engineering degree with a specialization in food science from Zamorano University. - She also pursued professional education in digital marketing strategies and leadership-related areas. - Lizarraga says advice from her grandmother shaped her career philosophy: work hard, study, find your passion, and never give up. - Her career path led her to identify gaps in access to Spanish-language and multicultural children’s books in the United States. - Cinco Books has built relationships with libraries and publishers across the United States and Latin America. - Those partnerships help widen access to books in multiple languages and support institutions serving increasingly diverse communities. - Lizarraga emphasizes personalized customer service and customized orders for clients. - Cinco Books says its bilingual and multicultural team helps the company bring cultural understanding into its work. - Lizarraga is a member of the American Library Association, REFORMA, the International Board on Books for Young People, the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials, and the American Translators Association. - Lizarraga also created the Cinco Books Foundation to support stray cats in South Florida.

Between the lines: - Lizarraga’s approach treats publishing as both a business and a social service. - Her focus on bilingualism reflects a belief that speaking more than one language should be seen as an advantage, not a barrier. - The emphasis on dignity and representation suggests Cinco Books is aiming to serve Hispanic families and other diverse communities as active participants in American culture. - Her mentoring of young professionals extends the company’s mission beyond books and into workforce development. - Her interest in possible future public service points to a broader civic agenda beyond publishing.

What’s next: - Lizarraga plans to keep expanding Cinco Books through publishing, speaking engagements, educational forums, and community initiatives. - She aims to use books as tools for empowerment, understanding, and inclusion. - Her longer-term goal is to help the next generation see their cultures, identities, and possibilities reflected in literature.

The bottom line: - Cinco Books is using bilingual publishing to connect literacy with representation and community impact.