Rajani LaRocca's Blog, page 12

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE an Anti-Defamation League Book of the Month!

I’m so honored that the Anti-Defamation League chose Red, White, and Whole as their ADL Book of the Month in April 2022.

The ADL Book of the Month program features books that “teach about bias and prejudice, promote respect for diversity, [and] encourage social action.” As part of its Book of the Month feature, the ADL’s Education Department created an excellent Red, White, and Whole study guide for teachers and parents, complete with keywords, discussion questions,  and extension activities.

An Amazing Time at the Oxford Children’s Book Festival!

What an incredible time I had in Oxford, MS on March 31 for the Oxford Children’s Book Festival, where I presented about WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET to first graders, and MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM to fifth graders! Huge thanks to the University of Mississippi Center for the Study of Southern Culture, the Oxford Conference for the Book, the Oxford Public Library, the Lafayette Literacy Council, the Oxford Junior Auxiliary, and Square Books Jr for inviting me and buying books for every 1st and 5th grader in the county!The Ford Center was an incredible venue, and I’ve never spoken in front of a screen that big! All the students were so respectful and enthusiastic and asked such great questions!The signing at Square Books Jr was packed and made me feel like a rock star! All the organizers and volunteers were incredibly kind, helpful, and welcoming!! I had time to explore the beautiful town and see William Faulkner’s house! And yes, the food was AMAZING! I can’t wait to return to this beautiful town! I’m truly grateful to have visited!!

A Wonderful Book Birthday for I’LL GO AND COME BACK!

Nine years ago, I got an idea for a picture book, a “mirror story” about a girl and her grandmother and traveling between cultures, and understanding each other despite not speaking the same language.Four years ago today, I sold that book — my first book, a story about about flying across the world and finding that love makes a home wherever you are.Today, that book releases into the world. It’s straight from my heart to yours. I’LL GO AND COME BACK, gorgeously illustrated by Sara Palacios and published by Candlewick Press, is available NOW!I spent a wonderful day with virtual school visits in the morning, a visit to Silver Unicorn Bookstore in the afternoon, and an evening featuring delicious South Indian food with my dear friend and critique partner, Hayley Barrett, who has been with this story since it was just an idea and a sketch.

A Timely New Nonfiction Picture Book!

I’ve been waiting a long time to announce that my picture book, A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY, illustrated by amazing Kathleen Marcotte, will release in 2023 with Little Bee Books! As a doctor, I’m thrilled to share this book about the history and science of vaccines with young readers!

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE Wins a Golden Kite Award!

On March 15, I joined the Golden Kite Award finalists and hundreds of other SCBWI members for the virtual Golden Kite Awards! Although we couldn’t meet in person, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces (including Jason Reynolds, who gave an amazing keynote address!) and lovely comments in the chat!

And I’m overwhelmed with joy that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won the Golden Kite Award for Middle Grade Fiction! CUBA IN MY POCKET by my friend Adrianna Cuevas won the Honor award, and I am humbled to be in the company of Adrianna and the other finalists — Victoria Piontek, Sundee T. Frazier, and Supriya Kelkar. The award and honor winners selected charities that SCBWI will donate to on their behalf; I chose to donate to the World Literacy Foundation.

All the finalists learned who had won in real time, so there were some lovely spontaneous moments of laughter and thanks and tears. We had all been asked to prepare speeches ahead of time. You can watch the Middle Grade Fiction announcement and my speech about writing during these difficult times or see below for the whole program.

I am so honored that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, a book of my heart, received this prestigious award. SCBWI is the reason I met so many friends and critique partners, and without my writer friends, I couldn’t have written a thing.

An Article in The Boston Globe!

I was delighted to speak with Boston Globe reporter Nancy West earlier this year for a piece on local women writers and how they kept writing during the pandemic that published today! I loved reading about the other local authors, including my friend Rebecca Caprara.

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RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite Award Finalist!

I’m thrilled that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite Award Middle Grade Finalist! I’ve learned so much and met so many incredible people through SCBWI, and I’m honored to see my book recognized in this way! The virtual awards ceremony will take place on March 15! See the complete list of finalists here.

Discussing Book Bans and the Need for Diversity on Basic Black on WGBH Boston!

I was thrilled to be on Basic Black on WGBH TV Boston! Host Callie Crossley and panelists Jabari Asim, Denise Adusei, Mia Wenjen, and I had a fantastic discussion about book bans and the need to read diversely.

MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL Wins a 2022 Mathical Honor!

I’m so thrilled that MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL has won a 2022 Mathical Honor!

Each year, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) announces 2022 winners of the Mathical Book Prize, which recognizes outstanding fiction and literary nonfiction for youth ages 2-18. I’m so glad that MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL joins so many incredible books on this list!

 

A Sparkly Giveaway!

In honor of the one-year Book Birthday for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, its new shiny Newbery Sticker, and a STAR for my forthcoming picture book, I’LL GO AND COME BACK, I’m giving away a signed copy of both books!

Both these books are very close to my heart, and I’m so grateful to have them in the world! Enter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway