Mireya Saldúa never forgot the sense of community she felt as a student at Saint Xavier University. Coming back to campus this fall as an author felt like coming home.
“I enjoyed the classes, the professors and the community feeling that SXU fosters,” Saldúa said. “I truly believe in the values that SXU embodies, that I love to give back, and that is why I was so excited that SXU hosted me during Homecoming Week.”
Saldúa, whose author name is Mireya Saldúa, graduated from SXU in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and in 1995 with an MBA. She now lives in Lenexa, Kansas, but she returned to Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to host a special reading of her first book, Fun Day With Misa / Un Día Divertido Con Misa, during Homecoming festivities.
“Yes, Fun Day With Misa is my first published book,” she said. “It’s self-published through Hot Tamale Publishing, and I released it in June 2025. It has been such a joy to see it come to life.”
The story follows Misa, a miniature Australian Shepherd puppy who learns that fun and love can come from unexpected places.
“Misa is bored and wants to have fun,” Saldúa explained. “She wants to play with mom and dad, but they do not have time. She does not know if Granny will be any fun but is surprised to find that she can have FUN with her. Along the way, Misa encounters so many ways to have a fun day.”
During the Homecoming event, children and families joined Saldúa for interactive activities. She shared coloring pages and activity sheets inspired by Misa, which are available online through her Come Along With Misa website and social media. Then, she read the story aloud in both English and Spanish.
“It was a fun event,” she said. “I wanted families to experience the joy of the story together and to celebrate bilingual storytelling.”
The book’s bilingual format was intentional, Saldúa said, meant to bring families together across language and culture.
“I wrote this as a bilingual book to support language learning and celebrate cultural diversity,” she said. “A bilingual book allows children and families to connect through language, whether they are learning English, Spanish or both.”
Her inspiration came from personal reflection on the bond between children and grandparents — and the lesson of not making assumptions too quickly.
“I was inspired to write Fun Day With Misa because of the often-overlooked bond between young children, or pets as family members, and their grandparents,” she said. “The message of the book is do not judge something or someone too quickly. Misa thought a day with Granny would not be fun, but she discovered that love, laughter, and adventure come in many forms.”
The book is aimed at children ages 4 to 8, especially families who love pets, bilingual households and classrooms. Saldúa said she hopes it encourages young readers to keep an open heart.
“I hope that children learn to stay open to new experiences, to value family connections, and to appreciate the fun that can come from simply being together,” she said.
Saldúa’s storytelling has also inspired a musical connection. A song, Misa Misa Life is Beautiful, sung by artist Leddy Marie, was recently released and is available on streaming platforms.
Saldúa said her return to SXU underscored the values that first drew her to the university more than 30 years ago.
“Being back reminded me of how much SXU shaped me,” she said. “It feels good to share something that I hope will inspire the next generation.”
