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.

10.2.2017: #PubforPR Auction

Dear friends,

If you're looking for a way to help with the hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico, please check out #PubforPR, an auction organized by several members of the kid lit community, featuring items donated by authors, editors, and literary agents. All winning bids going directly to Unidos por Puerto Rico and ConPRmetidos (bidder's choice), two carefully vetted local charity organizations participating in the relief efforts.

The full list of auction items--including signed books, manuscript critiques, query letter critiques, writing retreats, Skype visits with authors, in-person visits with literary agents, and more--may be found here on the Pub for PR website. 

If you know an elementary-school teacher or a classroom of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th graders who love to read, please consider bidding on my auction item: a class set (up to thirty copies) of Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split paperbacks, plus all six of my books in hardcover for the school or classroom library, a class set of bookmarks and stickers, and a 20-minute Skype visit with me. The approximate value of this package is $320. Bidding starts at $75, and you can find the link here.

The #PubforPR auction opened this morning and runs until 10pm eastern time on Thursday, October 5th. Please bid early and often! And please help spread the word to your friends.

If you don't wish to bid, you can still donate to Unidos por Puerto Rico or ConPRmetidos. If you contribute $15 or more to either organization and send a copy of your donation receipt to  PubforPR@gmail.com with the words “Donation for Raffle Entry” in the subject line, you will be entered to win one of five secret prizes.

Thank you to the auction organizers for donating their time and energy to this effort. And thank you for the good you do in the world.

xox, Nica

8.31.2017: Extra, Extra! Read All About It

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!

P.S. Anna, Banana, and Friends: A Four-Book Paperback Collection came out this week. It includes Anna, Banana books 1-4 inside a super-cute case. If you need a copy, here's where to find one: Indiebound | B&N | BAM | Amazon | Target | Indigo 

12.31.2015: The Year in Reading

A Good Year for Books

What did you read in 2015? Here are the books that shaped my year (not including picture books, books read in part, chapter books read while standing or sitting in the bookstore, books I wrote or edited, or books read in manuscript form).

Whatever's on your TBR, I wish you a 2016 filled with memorable characters and words that matter. Happy New Year.