3.31.2017: Book news! More Bananas

March comes in like a lion, goes out like Bananas....

I'm pleased as punch to get to write two more books in the Anna, Banana series (books seven and eight!). Thank you to all the readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents whose support is making this possible. And thanks to illustrator Meg Park, editrix Alexa Pastor, agent Meredith Kaffel Simonoff, designer Laurent Linn, and the whole fabulous team at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. I'm having a lot of fun creating these stories and can't wait to see where the adventures lead next!

Here's the official announcement from Publishers Marketplace:

The first four books in the series will soon be available in Danish as well. Here are the covers for the first two translations, coming from Carlsen publishers in May 2017. Google tells me the titles translate to "Enemies" and "One, Two, Many." Please tell all your friends in Denmark!

There's still time to preorder book five, Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten, which comes out in hardcover, paperback, and ebook on May 2nd. You can find it online at Amazon, B&N, Indiebound, Target, BAM, and iTunes, or ask for it at your local bookstore or library. Thanks for your support! Here's Rooga reviewing the first typeset pages:

1.1.2017: A Year of Reading

What did you read in 2016? Here are the books that shaped my year, not including picture books, books read in part, or books I wrote (more news on that topic coming soon!).

In the final weeks of 2016, I sent more than four-hundred Anna, Banana books to classrooms and libraries in high-poverty elementary schools in twenty-three states. Thanks to all who helped spread the word about that giveaway.

If you're looking for a pup-tastic, purple-covered paperback start to 2017, I've got good news: the paperback of Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade hits stores on January 3rd--and it contains a sneak peek at Anna, Banana book five, Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten, which comes out in hardcover, ebook, and paperback this May (for pre-order links, please click here). 2017 is also the year of The Teacher's Pet, my first picture book, illustrated by the wonderful Zachariah OHora (available in June, and pre-orderable now).

Whatever's on your TBR, I hope the story of your year will be a good one. 

11.13.2016: Free Books for High-Poverty Schools

This fall, I'm hoping to donate Anna, Banana chapter books to high-poverty public elementary schools* (meaning either Title I or schools where more than 70% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals). If that's your school, please be in touch! My email is anicamroserissi at gmail dot com.

Last year, I sent 159 books to 53 schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia. I'd love to send out even more this year.

If you're inclined to share this post to help spread the word, please do. You'll also find it in shareable form on my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Thank you!

*U.S. schools only, due to shipping costs.

The Anna, Banana chapter books are best for students in grades 1-4. For more information about the series, please click here.

10.11.2016: A Peek Inside The Teacher's Pet

How can one little pet cause such big trouble?

*Gulp*

I'm monstrously excited to share this early peek at my very first picture book, The Teacher's Pet, illustrated by Zachariah OHora and coming from Disney-Hyperion on June 20, 2017.

If you'd like to pre-order a copy (thank you!!), here are the links for B&N and Amazon. You can also request it at your local bookstore or library by telling them the ISBN: 978-1-4847-4364-5. To add the book on Goodreads, please click here.

Here's what the book is about:

On the day the tadpoles hatch, the whole class is amazed—they've never seen their teacher so excited. Mr. Stricter has always wanted a pet, so he tells the students they can keep just one. The class chooses Bruno, the smallest of the bunch. But Bruno doesn't stay small for long. Soon he's grown into a giant, classroom-wrecking creature: He eats desks, farts for show-and-tell, and sneezes slime all over everything! Everyone can see that Bruno is trouble. Everyone except Mr. Stricter.

With their teacher blinded by love for the pet, the students must step up and take matters into their own heroic hands.

I had a lot of fun writing this story, and even more fun seeing Zach's illustrations bring it to life. Here's one of my favorite interior spreads:

The Teacher's Pet, pages 17-18

I can't wait for you to see the whole thing!

F&Gs!

F&Gs!

10.7.2016: Little Lost Kitten Cover Reveal!

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten.

I'm delighted to share Meg Park's adorable cover art for the fifth book in the Anna, Banana series. Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten will come meowing into a bookstore or library near you (in hardcover, paperback, and ebook!) on May 2, 2017. 

If you'd like to pre-order a copy, please follow these links for B&N, Amazon, BAM, or iTunes, or ask for it at your local bookstore or library. To add the book on Goodreads, click here. Thanks for your support!

Here's what it's about:

It's Anna's lucky day: She found a stray kitten! But when her dog, Banana, scares the kitten away, it's up to Anna and her friends to find him again.

Catching the kitten is trickier than Anna expects—kittens are easily scared and very sneaky. And even a small kitten can cause big trouble, as Anna and her friends soon discover. They want to help the kitten find a good place to live, but is saving the kitten worth breaking the rules?

In other news: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet (book three) is now available in paperback (click here to find where to buy it). And the first four Anna, Banana hardcovers now come in a beautiful boxed set called Anna, Banana, and Friends: A Four-Book Collection. I love that the boxed set art is the same as the cover for book one, only with Sadie smiling. Here's where to find it: Indiebound | B&N | Amazon | BAM | Target.

Mmm, tasty paperbacks

Anna, Banana hardcover boxed set!

So...what do you think Anna and Banana should dress up as for Halloween?

7.20.2016: Productive Procrastination

"Sometimes the best way to write your novel is to do something else instead." 

I wrote a piece for the August 2016 issue of The Writer magazine on Productive Procrastination--tips for getting your brain unstuck and your creativity flowing, while allowing your mind to wander deeper into the world you're creating. Writing this piece was a fun and productive way for me to procrastinate. Click here to read it.

I'm delighted to share that the Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split paperback is now in its second printing. Thank you, readers!

And hey, have I mentioned I am now on Instagram? Follow me at @anicarissi for photos of books, dogs, and writer life.

7.5.2016: Bendier! Floppier! Lighter! More Paperback-y!

(and also, cheaper!) 

Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle (book two in the Anna, Banana chapter-book series) is available in paperback, starting today! The paperback edition is bendier, floppier, lighter, cheaper, and more paperback-y than the hardcover, and it's still chock full of friendship fun (and also: cute zoo animals). 

Ask for it at your favorite local bookstore, or find it online here: Indiebound | B&N | BAM | iTunes | Amazon | Goodreads

Friends in northern Virginia and downeast Maine, I hope you'll join Anna, Banana and me for two free, fun events this summer. I will be telling stories and signing books at the Mount Vernon Park Association in Alexandria, Virginia at 4pm on Thursday, July 14th, and at noon on Saturday, August 13th at The Periwinkle in Deer Isle, Maine. I'd love to see you there!

5.5.2016: Happy Birthday, Little Book!

This calls for cake.

One year ago today, my first book was born. I've been celebrating all week by making up new stories with the creative kids in the Princeton Young Achievers program—and by eating chocolate cake with pink vanilla frosting (Anna and Sadie's favorite). Thank you to all the readers, booksellers, librarians, educators, parents, and friends who made this such a fun year for Anna, Banana, and me.

If you've been waiting for Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split to be cheaper and more bendable, wait no longer! It is now out in paperback. Here are some of the places you can find it: Indiebound, Amazon, B&N, BAM.  

I just sent the manuscript for Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten (book five) to my editor. I'm excited for you all to read it. But first: revisions (and more cake). 

4.21.2016: Some Poems for Your Pockets

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day!

I hope you’ve been having a mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful National Poetry Month. 

In honor of Poem in Your Pocket Day (and springtime!), here are two poems I published in my hometown newspaper, the Island Ad-Vantages, in May 1986 (age 7), plus some never-before-seen original artwork. 

And here's a link to another spring poem, "April Prayer," by a much better Maine poet, Stuart Kestenbaum.

3.17.2016: Five Schools in Five Days

Snapshots from a Whirlwind Tour

Talking with kids about books and writing is one of my favorite parts of being an author, and I was lucky to spend last week visiting five elementary schools in the D.C. area, where I met hundreds of fantastic kid readers. Thank you to all the students, librarians, and educators who welcomed Anna, Banana, and me into their schools and asked terrific questions. And thanks to An Open Book Foundation, which sponsored my visit to the Washington School for Girls, and to local independent bookstore One More Page Books, which provided books at the other schools. 

If you’re interested in having me visit your school, I'd be delighted to try to make it work. Please see the newly updated school visits page for more information. 

Here are a few snapshots from the tour!