4.16.2019: Wee wee wee! WOLF is here!

April 16, 2019 Anica Rissi

Watch Out for Wolf picture book and flowers.png

This little piggy is excited: My new picture book is out today! Watch Out for Wolf! is my collaboration with illustrator Charles Santoso. Here’s what it’s about:

Piggle, Piggleton, Piggit, Piggums, and Pigbert are throwing a party and there is so much to do—but SHHH—watch out for Wolf!

I had a lot of fun writing this story about five excitable little pigs and their ambitious party plans (and Wolf, who might ruin everything). And I had even more fun seeing the humor and depth (and the game of seek-and-find) Charles Santoso’s fabulous illustrations bring to the tale.

To purchase a copy of Watch Out for Wolf! please follow one of these links, or request it at your local bookstore or library. Thank you!

Here’s how Rooga reacted when my author copies arrived:

Watch out for Wolf! author copies arrival.png

I look forward to signing books and meeting readers at festivals and library events in Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Maine over the next few months. If you live in or near a town I’m visiting, I’d love to see you there. For more information, please visit my events page.

Anica Mrose Rissi spring & summer 2019 events.JPG

Wee wee wee!

9.11.2018: Watch Out for Wolf! and Upcoming Events

September 11, 2018 Anica Rissi

Shhh…. Watch out for Wolf!

This little piggy is excited to share the cover for Charles Santoso’s and my 2019 picture book, Watch Out for Wolf!. It’s the story of five anxious but enterprising little pigs who are preparing a very big surprise. It recasts the “This Little Piggy Went to Market” nursery rhyme, weaving in other beloved fables and tales (including the story of The Three Little Pigs) along the way. It’s also a story about friendship, assumptions, and inclusion. I had a lot of fun writing it! And even more fun seeing Charles’s delightful illustrations bring it to life.

The book comes out from Disney-Hyperion on April 16, 2019. The hardcover is available for preorder now wherever you buy books. (You can ask your local bookstore or library to order it, or follow one of the preorder links below. Thank you!)

Charles and I did a fun interview with Mr. Schu about the process of creating the book. If you’d like to read it, please click here. That post also includes a peek at some of the interior spreads.

Meanwhile, Always Forever Maybe has been out in the world for three months, and in some ways it still doesn’t feel real. If you are one of the people who has bought, borrowed, read, reviewed, discussed, or recommended it, THANK YOU. My favorite part of this YA author life has been interacting with readers (that’s my favorite part of chapter-book and picture-book author life, too). I got to do some amazing bookstore and library events up and down the east coast over the summer, and I’m looking forward to upcoming book festivals and other events in Princeton, Warwick, Chicago, Brooklyn, Miami, and Manhattan this fall. (Three of those events—the Princeton and Warwick Children’s Book Festivals and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Ghouls & Gourds Festival—will include the Anna, Banana books and The Teacher’s Pet in addition to Always Forever Maybe, if you know a younger reader who would like to meet an author and get a signed book.) If I will be in your city or town, I would love to connect. For more details, please visit my events page. It’s going to be a fun and busy fall!

Always Forever Maybe fall 2018 events.jpg

8.31.2017: Extra, Extra! Read All About It

August 31, 2017 Anica Rissi

It was an author dream come true to see The Teacher's Pet recommended in the New York Times last weekend, along with four other fun back-to-school picture books. If you missed the review, here it is:

Meanwhile, my dog, Arugula, was delighted to find herself on the cover of the the Princeton Echo. Dan Bauer wrote a lovely profile on us (and my books) for the September issue, which you can read online here.

If you'd like to see me in person, rather than in print, please come to one of my many September events. I will be doing a The Teacher's Pet story time and launch party (with prosecco, homemade cookies, and cheese!) at Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Sunday, September 10th, at 11am. On Saturday, September 16th, you'll find me on the Picture Book Stage at the Brooklyn Book Festival Children's Day at 11:30am, and at the Back to School Picture Book Bonanza (together with many other picture-book creators!) at Books of Wonder from 1-3pm. I'll be at the Princeton Children's Book Festival in Princeton, NJ, on Saturday, September 23rd, and the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA, this coming weekend (see my schedule, below). For more details on any of these events (and more coming up!), please visit the public events page of my website.

Happy back to school, happy start of fall, and happy reading!

6.20.2017: GULP! The Teacher's Pet is here!

June 20, 2017 Anica Rissi

*On the day the science project hatched, our whole class was amazed. We'd never seen Mr. Stricter so excited. "I always wanted a pet," he said.*

My first picture book, The Teacher's Pet, goes out into the world today! It's about a teacher who is so enamored of the new class pet, he can't see all the trouble it's causing. I had a lot of fun writing this silly, semi-autobiographical tale...and even more fun seeing how illustrator Zachariah OHora brought the story to life, telling a visual story that surprised (and delighted) even me.

(For those who don't know: Picture book writers and illustrators work separately for most of the process, and writers don't prescribe what should happen in the art. Instead, we try to leave lots of room in the text for illustrators to play, invent, and imagine new facets to the story--and that's where the magic happens.)

The book has been named one of The Best Children's and YA Books of June 2017 by Brightly, and one of the Best New Picture Books of June 2017 by The Children's Book Review.

In a starred review, Publishers Weekly wrote, "Rissi's very funny text is a model of understatement and restraint...allowing OHora to make the most of the story's physical comedy in thickly painted scenes spiked with neon orange. Mr. Stricter is a classic bumbler cut from Amelia Bedelia's cloth, and readers will hope that his class has more oddball tales in store."

Bookseller Todd Wellman selected The Teacher's Pet as a staff pick at Boswell Book Company, saying, "It's lovely to recommend a truly laugh-out-loud picture book in which the illustrations and text flatter each other so well. Rissi and OHora have devised a story that the reader will gleefully suspend disbelief for. Mr. Stricter has introduced a class pet, but it grows and grows into something unexpected that he loves but the students realize requires a different sort of compassion. All members of a classroom are shown to be contributors to the educational experience as the kids problem-solve and help their educational environment be successful."

I will be doing several book festival, library, and bookstore events in the next few months, including in Michigan, Maine, Georgia, New York, and New Jersey. If you're interested in coming to a The Teacher's Pet story time, I would love to see you there! Please visit my events page for more details.

The Teacher's Pet bookmarks and stickers for event attendees — *The Teacher's Pet* bookmarks and stickers for event attendees

3.17.2016: Five Schools in Five Days

March 17, 2016 Anica Rissi

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

February 2, 2016 Anica Rissi

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.

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!

9.22.2015: Festival Fun

September 22, 2015 Anica Rissi

I 💙 Book Lovers

One of my favorite parts of being an author is getting to meet and talk with kid readers, fellow authors, and other book lovers. I've been lucky to do several fun festivals and events in the past few months. Here's a photo tour of where I've been.

If you would like me to visit your elementary school or library this fall or winter, either in-person or via Skype, please be in touch! I love talking with kids about books and the writing process, from ideas to drafts to revisions, and beyond.

Reading and workshop at the Newburyport Literary Festival in Newburyport, MA (April)

Book release party at Hooray for Books! in Alexandria, VA (May)

Reading at the Stonington Public Library in Stonington, ME (August)

Children's Parade at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA (September)

Moderating the What a Character! panel with authors Lenore Look (Alvin Ho), Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantasmagory), and Jon Scieszka (Frank Einstein) at the Brooklyn Book Festival in Brooklyn, NY (September) — Moderating the What a Character! panel with authors Lenore Look (*Alvin Ho*), Abby Hanlon (*Dory Fantasmagory*), and Jon Scieszka (*Frank Einstein*) at the Brooklyn Book Festival in Brooklyn, NY (September)

Joint book release party with author Terra Elan McVoy (Drive Me Crazy) at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA (May) — Joint book release party with author Terra Elan McVoy (*Drive Me Crazy*) at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA (May)

Book release party at BookCourt in Brooklyn, NY (May)

Welcome signs at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA (September)

Best Friends Forever! panel with authors Terra Elan McVoy (Drive Me Crazy) and Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantasmagory), moderated by Tui Sutherland (Wings of Fire), at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA (September) — Best Friends Forever! panel with authors Terra Elan McVoy (*Drive Me Crazy*) and Abby Hanlon (*Dory Fantasmagory*), moderated by Tui Sutherland (*Wings of Fire*), at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA (September)

Autographed copies of the Anna, Banana books on display in bookstores throughout New York City and in Princeton, NJ, Decatur, GA, and Waterbury, CT (May-September) — Autographed copies of the Anna, Banana books on display in bookstores throughout New York City and in Princeton, NJ, Decatur, GA, and Waterbury, CT (May-September)

Thanks to all the terrific bookstores, libraries, festivals, and schools that have welcomed Anna, Banana, and me so far—and a huge thank you to the friends and fans who've come out to see us. I look forward to meeting more of you soon!

8.7.2015: Readings and Festivals and Giveaways, Oh My!

August 7, 2015 Anica Rissi

Attention, friends in Downeast Maine, greater Atlanta, and New York City (and also, friends on the internet):

Anna, Banana, and I are gearing up for some fun events in the next two months, and we'd love to see you there! We're also booking a few free Skype visits with classrooms and libraries for the fall. For more information on both those things, please see below.

But first: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet comes out on September 8th, and I'm giving away five beautiful hardcovers. Please click here to enter the Goodreads giveaway. The book is also available for pre-order: You can find it on Indiebound, B&N, BAM, iTunes, Target, or Amazon, or ask for it at your local bookstore or library. Thanks for your support.

Doubly exciting: Books one and two recently went into their second printings! Thank you to all the friends and readers who helped make that happen.

Upcoming events:

August 15th: Stonington Public Library

Join me at the Stonington Public Library in Stonington, Maine (my hometown!) on Saturday, August 15th at 1pm, for an hour of reading, storytelling, activities, and fun. Perfect for kid lit fans of all ages, especially children ages 5-10. The event is free; books will be available for sale (and for signing).

September 5th: AJC Decatur Book Festival

Join authors Terra Elan McVoy (Drive Me Crazy), Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantastmagory), and me for the Best Friends Forever panel at the AJC Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, September 5th. We'll be speaking on the Children's Stage from 3:15 to 3:45pm and signing books afterward.

September 19th: Brooklyn Book Festival Children's Day

I'm honored to be moderating a panel of three fabulous authors at the Brooklyn Book Festival on Saturday, September 19th, at 11am, at MetroTech Commons in downtown Brooklyn. Here's the official panel description:

WHAT A CHARACTER!: Lovable, laughable, and unforgettable, favorite chapter book characters always have the most engaging personalities--and the most memorable names. Authors Abby Hanlon (Dory Fantasmagory), Lenore Look (Alvin Ho and Ruby Lu), and Jon Scieszka (Frank Einstein) come together to discuss their inspiration behind creating--and naming--their beloved characters. Moderated by Anica Rissi (Anna, Banana).

If you've got a question for the authors on the panel, let me know and I might ask it!

Skype visits:

I'm offering a select number of free Skype visits with elementary school classrooms and libraries this fall. If you're interested in having me Skype with your school, please send me an email at anicamroserissi at gmail dot com. These 30-minute interactive Skype presentations are best for students in 2nd or 3rd grade.

(I do in-person school visits too! Those can be slightly trickier to schedule, but if you'd like me to come to your school this year, I'd be delighted to try to make it work.)

3.26.2015: Upcoming Events: Book Party Alert

March 26, 2015 Anica Rissi

You're invited! (x4)

Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split is almost here, and I'll be doing four fun events in April and May to celebrate. If you're anywhere near Newburyport, Atlanta, Alexandria, or Brooklyn, please come join me at one of the readings/parties below--I'd love to see you there!

If you can't come to the events but would still like to get a signed copy of the book, please contact Little Shop of Stories, Hooray for Books!, or BookCourt to order one. For a not-signed copy (or an ebook), just follow these links to Indiebound, Amazon, B&N, BAM or iTunes, or ask for Anna, Banana at your local bookstore or library.

Thanks for your support! See you soon.

April 25: Newburyport Literary Festival

I'll be launching Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split at the Newburyport Literary Festival in Newburyport, MA on Saturday, April 25. Please come say hello, get a signed a copy of the book, take part in a fun storytelling game...and meet my mom, too!

May 1: Little Shop of Stories

Join acclaimed YA author Terra Elan McVoy and me at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA on Friday, May 1 at 6:30pm for a joint party celebrating the release of two friendship-themed books: Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split and Terra's first middle-grade novel, Drive Me Crazy. Treats will be served and books will be signed. Bring your best friend!

May 3: Hooray for Books!

Please join me at Hooray for Books! in Alexandria, VA from 2-4pm on Sunday, May 3. There will be fun activities for kids, tasty beverages for adults, and treats and books for all.

May 9: BookCourt

Come celebrate with me at one of my favorite Brooklyn bookstores, BookCourt, on Saturday, May 9, at 4pm. There will be activities for kids and prosecco for grownups, plus cheese, cheer, and home-baked treats for all. (Also, books!)

I will also be doing several school visits this spring and fall. If you'd like me to visit or Skype with your school or classroom, please be in touch!