Welcome to
Maria Elena Alvarez Vasquez's Website
Step into a world where Christmas magic meets the love of family. Maria Elena Alvarez Vasquez is a proud grandmother, lifelong reader, and storyteller from Ecuador who now calls New York home. Her debut book, Little Mateo, A Great Gift of Christmas, was written from the heart for her grandson Mateo, whose name means "Gift from God." What began as a tender letter to a little boy has grown into a bilingual Christmas story that families everywhere can share. Here you'll find her book, her story, and the inspiration behind every page.
About the Author
Maria Elena Alvarez Vasquez
"Writing for children is my way of passing on the love, faith, and wonder that have shaped my own life. Every story is a little piece of my heart."
17YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE
Maria Elena Alvarez Vasquez was born in Ecuador on July 6, 1955. She studied Language and Literature at the Catholic University of Guayaquil and Basic Education at the State University of Guayaquil, where her love for words first took root. Today, she lives in New York, surrounded by her five children and five grandchildren, who continue to inspire her writing every day. Her favorite pastime has always been reading and writing for both children and adults, and after years of putting stories on paper just for family, she finally shared one with the world. Little Mateo, A Great Gift of Christmas is her first published book, born from a grandmother's love and her belief that some gifts arrive in our lives by something far greater than chance.
Maria Elena Alvarez Vasquez
About the Book
Little Mateo
In the magical North Pole, where toy factories hum with the work of cheerful elves, lives Little Mateo, the great-great-grandson of Santa Claus. He spends his days watching the workshop come alive with color and song, but deep down, he longs to see the world beyond the snow and the workshop walls. So on Christmas Eve, with a brave little heart and a head full of dreams, he tucks himself away on Santa's sleigh and sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. From the bright lights of New York City to a quiet, cozy home in Farmingdale, his secret ride leads him somewhere he never expected, into the arms of a family who had been waiting for him all along. Told in both English and Spanish, this is a heartwarming Christmas story about curiosity, love, and the beautiful truth that the greatest gifts are the ones wrapped in faith and family.
Book
What's Inside the Book
Step into a Christmas story told in both English and Spanish, where every page is filled with wonder, warmth, and the kind of love that only family can give. Here’s a little peek at what waits inside.
01.
A LETTER FROM THE HEART
The book opens with a tender letter from a grandmother to her newborn grandson, written in 2021. It captures the awe of holding a tiny child in your arms and feeling the goodness of God in every smile, every gesture, and every breath he takes.
02.
MATEO'S BIG ADVENTURE
At the magical North Pole, Little Mateo dreams of seeing the world beyond the toy factories. On Christmas Eve, he climbs onto Santa's sleigh and sets off on a secret ride that carries him over snowy rooftops and city lights to a place he never imagined.
03.
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
When Mr. and Mrs. Ortega find a sleeping baby beneath their Christmas tree, their lives change forever. What starts as a night of curiosity becomes a beautiful reminder that the greatest gifts are the ones wrapped in love, faith, and family.
CLIENT'S TESTIMONIALS
What Readers Say About The Book
A heartfelt thank you to the families who have welcomed Little Mateo into their homes and shared their kind words. Reading a Christmas story with your loved ones is a tradition worth keeping, and hearing how this book has touched others means more than words can say.
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