Because she had been a top competitive swimmer in high school, she studied physical education at the Universidad de Xalapa, hoping to teach gym.

One day her mother-in-law took her son Kelly to a public library in the city of San Francisco, she remembers she was so amazed and inspired by the section of children's books.

[4] Morales bought a set of paints and brushes and enrolled in an extension class at UC Berkeley on writing for children where she met a group of other aspiring authors and illustrators.

Morales's first English-language picture book project was Kathleen Krull's text for Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez in 2003.

Reviewing Morales's work, School Library Journal contributor Sue Morgan praised her "beautifully rendered earth-tone illustrations," while Traci Todd, writing in Booklist, cited the book's "gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues."