Rajani LaRocca

Award-winning Children's Book Author

The Book Trailer for MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW!

I'm delighted to share the incredible book trailer for MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW! This book about family, patience, and chai is beautifully illustrated by Neha Rawat and releases from Candlewick on September 5, 2023! The trailer was created by my amazing friend, Dan … [Read more...]

The Launch of THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS!

I was lucky enough to travel to San Diego to hang out with my awesome friend, Chris Baron, and officially launch THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS into the world! First, I got to fangirl Chris, Jessica Kim, and Tracy Badua at the San Diego Festical of Books. Then Chris and visited the beach at La Jolla … [Read more...]

The Book Trailer for THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS!

I'm so thrilled to share the incredible book trailer for THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS, an epistolary middle grade novel co-written with my amazing friend Chris Baron! This wonderful book will release on August 29 and is available for preorder today! The trailer was created by our fabulous friend, … [Read more...]

SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS Interview on NPR Weekend Edition!

  I was SO thrilled that Abhi Alwar and I were interviewed for the "Picture This" segment on NPR Weekend Edition about our book SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS! It was such a delight to chat with Abhi, and you will see why I'm so in awe of her and her work! What a joy to celebrate cousins and … [Read more...]

A New South Asian Middle Grade Anthology!

I'm so excited to be a part of a new South Asian Middle Grade Anthology! THE DOOR IS OPEN will release in Spring 2024—it's edited by Hena Khan, and features stories by Sayantani DasGupta, Reem Faruqi, Veera Hiranandani, Simran Jeet Singh, Supriya Kelkar, Maulik Pancholy, Mitali Perkins, Aisha Saeed, … [Read more...]

Crafting Verse Novels at the Highlights Foundation!

The inaugural Crafting Verse Novels Workshop and Retreat, taught by Chris Baron, Cordelia Jensen, and me took place on May 21-24, 2023 at the Highlights Foundation . . . and it was fantastic! Chris, Cordelia, and I met with 18 verse novelists discussion craft, reading, writing, and publishing. We … [Read more...]

SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS on THE TODAY SHOW!

I'm absolutely thrilled that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, written by me and beautifully illustrated by Abhi Alwar, is on the Read With Jenna Junior Summer 2023 Reading List along with 23 other amazing books, several of which are written by friends! It was a dream come true to see our book on … [Read more...]

A SUPER launch for SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS!

On a gorgeous May morning, Abhi Alwar and I launched our sweet summertime story, SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, NY! We talked about the inspiration for the story, did a reading, and Abhi did an illustration demo with ALL SEVEN COUSINS in the story! Afterwards, we enjoyed … [Read more...]

A New Picture Book on Naturalization!

I'm SO thrilled that SOME OF US: A STORY OF CITIZENSHIP AND AMERICA will be illustrated by amazing Huy Voun Lee and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in 2025! As an immigrant and a naturalized citizen, this book is very important to me, and I can't wait to share it with the … [Read more...]

A THIRD STAR for SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS!!

I'm humbled and thrilled that Abhi Alwar and I have received a THIRD starred review, this one from Booklist, for our forthcoming picture book, SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, releasing May 16, 2023 from Abrams Books! I'm so delighted that this sweet book about summer, family, and ice cream is resonating with … [Read more...]

Another STAR for SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS!!

I'm so delighted that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, written by me and illustrated by amazing Abhi Alwar, has earned a second starred review, this one from Publishers Weekly! Our story about summer, family, and ice cream releases on May 16, 2023 and is available for preorder today! … [Read more...]

The Cover of MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW!

I'm delighted to share the cover of MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW, beautifully illustrated by Neha Rawat, coming from Candlewick Press on September 5, 2023 and available for preorder now! This is a story about Aarav, a boy who likes to go fast, and his Thatha (grandfather), who likes to takes … [Read more...]

A STAR for SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS!

The first trade review is in for my forthcoming picture book, SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, beautifully illustrated by Abhi Alwar, and it is a STARRED REVIEW from Kirkus Reviews! The reviewer says: "It’s clear that though relationships evolve over time, they can still stay strong. Framed by the cousins’ … [Read more...]

SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS Final Copies Arrive!

Finished copies of SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS arrived today, and they are absolutely beautiful! This book exists because my agent asked me to write a summer story. And so I thought back to my many childhood summers with my cousins, and all the fun we used to have…but also the awkwardness and … [Read more...]

The Massachusetts Book Awards!

What an incredible day at the Massachusetts State House for the Massachusetts Book Awards! For the first time since 2019, there was an in-person celebration of amazing authors and books from here in Massachusetts! My husband Lou and my dad got to accompany me, and it was SO lovely to share … [Read more...]

NCTE National Convention!

I had an amazing time in Anaheim, California, at the NCTE National Convention. I had the pleasure of being on two super-star-packed panels: "Book Banning and Erasure of the Whole Child" and "Underrepresented Authors on Diversity in STEM/STEAM Fiction and Nonfiction." It was a real treat to see old … [Read more...]

VCFA WCYA Alumnx Mini-Residency!

I had a fantastic time at the  Vermont College of the Fine Arts' WCYA Alumnx Mini-Residency. I was honored to be the Guest Author at this four-day conference, and it was fun spending time with agents, editors, VCFA faculty, and alumni. We gave and listened to lectures, chatted about craft and the … [Read more...]

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