Rajani LaRocca's Blog, page 31

MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM Featured in the Children’s Book Council Women of Color Protagonists Showcase!

I’m honored that the Children’s Book Council has featured MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM alongside some other incredible books as part of their Woman of Color Protagonists Showcase! Check out Mimi and some other wonderful main characters here.

MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM featured on the We Need Diverse Books Blog!

I’m honored that MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM is featured in this We Need Diverse Books blog post, “15 Books to Gift” by bookseller and and incredible author (of YA fantasy SHATTER THE SKY) Rebecca Kim Wells! Check out the whole list here.

I’m Available to Skype for World Read Aloud Day!

World Read Aloud Day is February 5, 2020! Educators can sign up to Skype with me by emailing me at rajani@rajanilarocca.com! Plan on a 15-20 minute session that includes a reading from MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, Q & A, and book recommendations. Contact me today to schedule a session! Please include the times you are available and the age group of your students in your email. You can find other authors doing WRAD sessions on Kate Messner’s blog.

A #KidsNeedMentors School Visit!

This fall, I joined the #KidsNeedMentors program, which matches authors with teachers and classrooms across the country to form a school-year partnership to connect kids to authors and inspire them as readers and writers. I was matched with Patricia Palmer’s 4th grade class in Stoughton, MA. So far this year, we have Skyped, exchanged FlipGrid videos, and written notes to each other. And today, I got to meet the kids in person! I spent the whole morning with Mrs. Palmer and her students. They made me a lovely welcome sign, and peppered me with great questions. Then I went over my “homework” — a fun information sheet they had given me to fill out. I read a chapter from MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM (Chapter 4: Practice Does Not Make Perfect), and learned about stories that they had been writing. Then they all signed by “yearbook,” and we went to the auditorium, where I spoke at assembly for grades 3-5! We returned to the classroom, where I signed their writer’s notebooks. It was a wonderful morning, and I can’t wait to visit them again!

2019 Writer’s Loft Holiday Book Bazaar at An Unlikely Story!

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon right after Thanksgiving, a bunch of book lovers got to kick off the holiday shopping season in epic fashion at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA! I joined a fantastic group of authors and illustrators who have all done events at The Writers’ Loft, a wonderful place that supports all kinds of creators. I had a blast catching up with friends, signing books, and getting a jump on my holiday shopping!

The Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books of 2019!

I am honored and utterly thrilled that MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM was named one of the best middle grade books of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews! It’s wonderful to be on this list with so many incredible authors, many of whom I’ve met in my travels this year! Check out the full list here.

Family Night at Heath School!

I got to visit wonderful Heath School in Brookline, MA for a fantastic Family Night! After I presented to young readers and their families, students purchased MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM from superb local bookstore Brookline Booksmith, and had them inscribed and signed!

 

Picture Book Boot Camp with Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple at The Highlights Foundation!

I was absolutely overjoyed to attend the 7th (!) annual Picture Book Boot Camp with Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple! It took place at the always-welcoming, always-inspiring Highlights Foundation, where twenty-four lucky picture book authors got to learn from Jane and Heidi and from each other. We also got to inaugurate the Jane Yolen Cabin!! I connected with old friends, made lots of new ones, filled my creative well, and left energized to work on new manuscripts and revise old ones! It was a magical weekend, and I’m so very grateful to be a part of this special group.

Kids’ Baking Contest at Aesop’s Fable!

Aesop’s Fable, a fantastic bookstore in Holliston, MA chose MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM as their Middle Grade Book Club selection for October 2019! And that’s why I got to spend an afternoon with an incredible group of young readers and bakers! The kids, who ranged in age from 7 to 13, brought in homemade treats inspired by this culinary riddle:

To add aroma, color, taste to food,
We travel far, and gladly pay the price.
We find blends custom-made for any mood,
Sprinkled or ground up, use lots of _____!

We had a great Q & A session about the book, followed by a taste testing, judging (which was very challenging!), and awards. Check out the gallery below to see the amazing creations made by this wonderful group of kids!

 

nErDCamp LI!

I was honored to join almost 50 fellow authors and over 300 educators at nErDCampLI this year! We shared inspiration, information, and our love of books, and a wonderful time was had by all! The incredible organizers made us all feel like stars…just take a look at the decorations, complete with a red carpet!!