Anica Mrose Rissi is an American author of children's books and young adult novels. Her first book, Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2015. [1] Her nonfiction pieces have been published by the New York Times and The Writer magazine. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Anica Mrose Rissi was born in Maine and grew up on the island of Deer Isle, where she graduated from the local public school system. [9] [10] [11] [12] After graduating from Yale University in 2001 with a degree in American Studies, Rissi moved to New York City, where she worked for many years as a book editor. [10] [12] Besides writing books, Rissi also plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band "Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves". [13] [14] [15] [16] She currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey. [12]
The Anna, Banana chapter-book series, for readers ages 6–10, follows a third-grader named Anna, her wiener dog named Banana, and Anna's two best friends, Sadie and Isabel. [17] Kirkus called the first book in the series, Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split (Simon & Schuster, 2015), "a realistic story for sensitive kids." [18] The series is also published in Danish, Czech, and Hebrew. [19] [20] Rissi has stated in interviews that her own dog, Arugula, was the inspiration for the dog in the Anna, Banana books. [12]
The Teacher's Pet (Disney-Hyperion, 2017), illustrated by Zachariah OHora, is a picture book about a teacher who is so in love with the new class pet, he can't see all the trouble it's causing. [21] In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said, "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." [22] School Library Journal called the book "perfect for classroom read-alouds and lessons on problem-solving or pets." [23] The New York Times Book Review said, "Rissi (the 'Anna, Banana' books), with her edge-of-grossout humor, and OHora ('Horrible Bear!'), with his giant-headed, candy-colored people, have over-the-top sensibilities that mesh fantastically" and USA Today called it "A guaranteed chuckle for any grown-up who’s ever had to take care of the class 'pet' for the weekend." [24] [25] It is also published in Chinese.
Watch Out for Wolf! (Disney-Hyperion, 2019), illustrated by Charles Santoso, is a picture book about five little piggies who are preparing a surprise birthday party for their friend Wolf. [26] [27] The book was chosen for the Texas Library Association's 2020 2x2 Reading List. [28] It is also published in Spanish and Catalan.
Love, Sophia on the Moon (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020), illustrated by Mika Song, is a picture book about a child who runs away to the moon after getting in trouble on earth. [29] She writes letters to her mother, and her mother writes back. [30] In a starred review, BookPage called the book a "tender, funny epistolary tale" [31] and noted that "With clear affection, author Anica Mrose Rissi (best known for her Anna, Banana series) captures the determination and obstinacy of children and the steady, unwavering love of a parent." [31] Kirkus Reviews said, "Readers will love it to the moon and back." [29] The book is also published in Chinese and was awarded the 2021 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in the Pre-K to Grade 3 category and the 2021 Maine Literary Award in Children's Literature category. [32] [33] [34]
Hide and Don't Seek: And Other Very Scary Stories (HarperCollins, 2021) is a middle-grade short story collection that Kirkus Reviews called "ideal for any younger reader looking for bite-sized horror." [35] Publishers Weekly said of the "20 brief offerings" in the collection, "some stories succeed better than others," but concluded "the sheer variety of creepy concepts, unsettling moments interspersed with humor, and gotcha twists will appeal to younger middle grade readers who are ready for a gateway into horror fiction—and a book to read around the campfire." [36] In a starred review, School Library Journal said the collection has "all the makings of a modern-day classic" and "shows promise of being read and retold again and again by this generation’s thrill-seekers." [37] The book includes "full-page charcoal-style illustrations" by Carolina Godina that "provide a sense of ominous eeriness." [35] The collection is also published in Polish, Russian, and Czech, and was named a 2022 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by YALSA. [38] [39]
Wishing Season (HarperCollins, 2023) is a "beautifully written," [40] [41] "achingly sad but also hopeful story set on a small Maine island," [42] in which "eleven-year-old Lily Neff struggles to accept the death of her twin brother, Anders." [43] The middle grade novel "poses questions about the power of our connections—to other people, to animals, and to the world around and beyond" [42] and "leads readers to questions about loss and the durability of relationships." [43] The book received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly , Horn Book , School Library Journal , and Kirkus , which called it "a droll, well-paced, and deeply moving book about loss and friendship." [43] [44] [42] [40]
Rissi's debut young adult novel, Always Forever Maybe (HarperCollins, 2018), is described as "about the depths and boundaries of true friendship and obsessive teenage love." [45] Publishers Weekly said the book "meaningfully highlights known patterns of intimate-partner abuse and speaks to the joy and importance of enduring friendship". [46] Always Forever Maybe was named to the Texas Library Association's TAYSHAS 2019 Reading List and is also published in Danish. [47] [48]
Rissi's second young adult novel, Nobody Knows But You (HarperCollins, 2020), "intersperses news reports, eyewitness testimony, personal letters and texts, and court transcripts to recount the eight summer weeks that led to a brutal murder at Camp Cavanick," according to Publishers Weekly . [49] The book was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Nobody Knows But You is also published in Dutch. [50]
Peg Kehret is an American author, primarily writing for children between the ages of 10 and 15.
The Sissy Duckling is a children's picture book written by actor Harvey Fierstein and illustrated by Henry Cole. It is 40 pages long and intended for children ages 5–8.
Sonya Sones is an American poet and author. She has written seven young adult novels in verse and one novel in verse for adults. The American Library Association (ALA) has named her one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century.
Sara Pennypacker is a New York Times bestselling American author of children's literature. She has written seventeen children's books, including Pax, Pax Journey Home, Here in the Real World, Summer of the Gypsy Moths, the Clementine, the Waylon series, and Stuart series.
Kathi Appelt is an American author of more than forty books for children and young adults. She won the annual PEN USA award for Children's Literature recognizing The Underneath (2008).
A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a 2010 children's picture book written by Philip C. Stead and was illustrated by Erin E. Stead. The book, published by Roaring Brook Press, depicts a zookeeper who has bonded with the animals he cares for and who come and visit him one day when he gets sick. Phillip Stead wrote the book hoping his wife Erin would illustrate it after a period where she had become discouraged with her art. The book was well reviewed, and Erin won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for her illustrations. The book received praise for its woodblock illustrations and for its message about what friends will do to help and support each other.
Allan Woodrow is an American author of children's literature, mostly middle grade fiction. His books include The Curse of the Werepenguin, Class Dismissed and The Pet War. His first book, the Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless, debuted in 2011 and was published by HarperCollins Children's Books.
Bethany Barton is an author and illustrator of children's books.
Locomotive is a 2013 children's book written and illustrated by Brian Floca. A non-fiction book written primarily in free verse, the book follows a family as they ride a transcontinental steam engine train in summer of 1869. The book details the workers, passengers, landscape, and effects of building and operating the first transcontinental railroad. The book also contains prose about the earlier and later history of locomotives. The book took Floca four years to create, which included a change in perspective from following the crew of the train to following a family. Floca conducted extensive research including his own train ride and consultation with experts to ensure he had the details all correct.
Kelly DiPucchio is an American writer of children's books. DiPucchio was born in Warren, Michigan. She attended Michigan State University where she graduated in 1989 in child psychology and development. She currently lives in Detroit, Michigan. Her books have made the New York Times bestseller list.
Cathy Camper is an Arab-American artist, librarian and author of books for children and teens. She wrote Bugs Before Time, illustrated by Steve Kirk, and the graphic novel series Lowriders in Space, illustrated by Raúl the Third. She has also exhibited seed art, entering work in the Minnesota State Fair's Crop Art show starting in 1989. Her portrait of James Brown was featured in Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People by Amy Sedaris.
Anna-Marie McLemore is a Mexican-American author of young adult fiction magical realism, best known for their Stonewall Honor-winning novel When the Moon Was Ours, Wild Beauty, and The Weight of Feathers.
Shannon Messenger is an American author. She writes the middle-grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, which was a New York Times bestseller; Unlocked, book 8.5 in the series, reached number 8 on USA Today's list in 2020. She also wrote the young-adult Sky Fall series. Her books have been published by Simon & Schuster.
Wendy Corsi Staub is an American writer of suspense novels and young adult fiction. She has written under her own name as well as Wendy Brody, Wendy Markham, and Wendy Morgan.
Eileen Spinelli is an American author of children's books and poetry.
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 2020.
The Wicked Deep is the debut novel from American young adult author Shea Ernshaw. The screen rights were acquired by Netflix in 2018. The Wicked Deep was published in 2018 by Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The novel was on the New York Times Best Seller list of March 25, 2018 in the Young Adult Hardcover category in the seventh spot. The Wicked Deep won the 2019 Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Adult Fiction, a subcategory of the Oregon Book Award.
Jessica Lanan is an American illustrator and author of children's books.
Wendy Anderson Halperin is an American illustrator and author of children's books.
Nancy Sippel Carpenter is an American illustrator of children's picture books.