11.15.2017: Free Books for Schools in Need

UPDATE (11.19.2017): Thanks to all of you who helped spread the word about these donations! The response has been overwhelming--I've already promised to send far more books than I originally budgeted to buy. I am going to fill all requests that have already come in (approximately 900 books), but unfortunately now I need to start turning new requests down. If you'd like to be among the first to know about future giveaways and other book news, please sign up for my newsletter (see sidebar).

This fall, I'm hoping to donate copies of the Anna, Banana chapter books and my picture book The Teacher's Pet 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! And if you know of a school in need, please encourage a teacher, librarian, or administrator there to reach out to me. My email is anicamroserissi at gmail dot com.

In the final weeks of 2016, I sent more than four hundred books to schools in twenty-three states. I hope to donate even more books this year.

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

*U.S. schools only, due to shipping costs. Giveaway ends December 15, 2017.

The Anna, Banana chapter books are best for students in grades 1-4. For more information about the series, please click here. The Teacher's Pet, illustrated by Zachariah OHora, is best for students in Pre-K through graduate school. For more information about the book, including reviews and a peek inside, please click here.

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.

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!

2.3.2016: More Bananas! and the Price of Promotion

Announcing...Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten!

I'm thrilled to share the news that there soon will be two more books in the Anna, Banana series. Up next: Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten. I can't wait to see the cover art! (But first I have to write the book.)

Here's the official announcement from Publishers Marketplace. I'm lucky to continue working with the fabulous team behind the first four books: editrix Kristin Ostby, agent Meredith Kaffel Simonoff, illustrator Meg Park, and art director Laurent Linn.

Click on the image above to open a PDF of the article.

Click on the image above to open a PDF of the article.

I have a new piece in the March issue of The Writer magazine, called the Price of Promotion. In it, I share what I did to help promote my debut novel (Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split), and what it cost, in time and money. I hope other writers will find it useful. (Click on the image to open a PDF.)

Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split recently went into its third printing. THANK YOU to all the booksellers, librarians, teachers, and readers who helped make this happen!

1.19.2016: Come Join the Puppy Parade!

Book Four, Unleashed!

AnnaBananaandthePuppyParade.jpg

Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade marches into stores today, and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you. 

Find out more about the book (and read an excerpt) here. You can ask for it at your local bookstore or library, or order a copy from Indiebound, B&N, BAM, Target, iTunes, or Amazon (which recently named Puppy Parade a Best Book of the Month!). Thanks for your support.

I invited some doggy friends to take a peek inside, and they agreed it's the most pup-tastic Anna, Banana book yet. Thanks to Bacio, Fiona, Bowser, Beyla, Soren, Carly, Ruby, Ezra, Seamus, Winston, Dixie, Lula, Roogie, Miles, Newsboy, Schnippy, and Teddy (and their humans!) for taking part in this photo parade.

Click to scroll through the photo carousel above. You'll find even more adorable dogs in the illustrations throughout the book!

12.8.2015: One True Rule (and Other Numbers)

1 True Rule of Writing, 10 New Pages of Fun, 150 Book Donations, and a 5-Book Giveaway

I reveal the One True Rule of writing—and the inspiration behind Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split—in the January issue of The Writer magazine, on newsstands now. It's their annual children's and YA issue, so there's lots of great kid-lit content inside. My essay is also published on the magazine's website, under a slightly different title. Here's the link.

If you're in the mood for some games, challenges, puzzles, and coloring sheets, please check out the brand new Anna, Banana activity kit. It's free, fun, and printable! 

Only six weeks to go before Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade marches into a bookstore near you. It's available for pre-order in all the usual places, and there's a five-copy giveaway happening on Goodreads now through January 19th. 

Speaking of giveaways, thank you to all who helped spread the word about my Anna, Banana donations endeavor. I got a fantastic response from teachers and school librarians across the country, and there are now 150 Anna, Banana books en route to 50 high-poverty schools in 21 states. The thought of Anna and Banana meeting so many new friends makes me grin ear to ear. I hope these books will make the kids smile, too.

6.25.2015: Puppy Parade Cover Reveal

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade!

I'm tail-waggingly excited to share the cover of Anna, Banana, and the Puppy Parade. This fourth book in the series is the most puppy-ful Anna, Banana book yet—I can't wait for you to see all the a-dog-able illustrations inside. But first, here's the cover:

Here's the flap copy:

Anna can’t wait for the Puppy Parade. She’s certain Banana will win. Soon Banana will be famous—and that means Anna will be famous too!

But when Sadie and Isabel suggest they all enter the parade together, Anna starts feeling a little unsure about sharing her dog—and the spotlight—with her friends.

How can Anna be Best in Show and be a good best friend?

The book comes out on January 19, 2016, but it's available for pre-order now. Here are the links: B&N | Amazon | BAM | iTunes | Indiebound 

To add the book on Goodreads, click here.

Thanks for your support! And big thanks to illustrator Meg Park, art director Laurent Linn, and editrix Kristin Ostby for making all this cuteness happen.