Rajani LaRocca

Award-winning Children's Book Author

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE Wins the Crystal Kite Award from New England SCBWI!

I am thrilled beyond belief that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won the 2022 Crystal Kite Award from New England SCBWI! I've been a member SCBWI since 2013, and the New England chapter is my home, where I have made so many creative friends! To have this book of my heart chosen by my peers for this honor … [Read more...]

A Glorious Time at SCBWI Florida!

I was honored to be a faculty member at the SCBWI Florida Conference 2022! The theme was "Reunited, and It Feels So Good!" It certainly felt fantastic to hang out with writers, illustrators, and fellow faculty members, including: Teaching a Novel Intensive with agent Saritza Hernandez and … [Read more...]

TLA 2022!

What an incredible time I had at my first in person Texas Library Association conference! The weather was beautiful in Fort Worth, and I had such a great time meeting wonderful librarians from all over Texas! I got to sign copies of RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE (at my first in person conference!), I'LL GO … [Read more...]

I’LL GO AND COME BACK In-Person Book Events!

I had such fun launching I'LL GO AND COME BACK in person at two of my favorite local bookstores! On April 10, I had a well-attended in-person launch at Brookline Booksmith, where I talked about the inspiration for the book and read the story! Then on April 23, I headed to Silver Unicorn Bookstore, … [Read more...]

Greenwich, Connecticut School Visits

What an amazing week I had in Greenwich, CT visiting three superlative schools: Greenwich Academy, Sacred Heart Greenwich, and Greenwich Country Day School, where I had breakfast with their Newbery Club, which had selected RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE as their winner, complete with Tiger Claw medal! There … [Read more...]

Newton CAS AuthorFest 2022!

I had such a lovely time at the 2022 CAS AuthorFest in Newton! On Tuesday, April 12, I visited Williams, Cabot, and Underwood elementary schools, then returned to Cabot in the afternoon for an awesome book signing where I got to see so many author friends! Then on April 13, I headed to Angier … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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. … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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. … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

A Star for I’LL GO AND COME BACK!

I'm thrilled and honored that my forthcoming picture book, I'LL GO AND COME BACK, has received a STARRED review from Publishers Weekly! This story, inspired by my own grandmother, is about a grandmother and granddaughter, and loves that flies across the world. I'LL GO AND COME BACK is gorgeously … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won the 2022 Walter Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature!

I'm utterly thrilled and honored that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won the 2022 Walter Dean Myers Award for Younger Readers! The Walter Awards are given by We Need Diverse Books to works of outstanding children's literature that celebrate diversity. When I first wrote this book of my heart, I wasn't … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2022 Notable Books for a Global Society Award Winner!

So honored to see RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE on the 2022 Notable Books for a Global Society Award list along with 24 other marvelous books! Each year, a committee of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Literacy Association selects 25 outstanding trade books … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is A Mighty Girl 2021 Book of the Year!

I was thrilled to find that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has been selected as a 2021 Book of the Year by A Might Girl! A Mighty Girl has incredible suggestions for books, toys, and movies for smart, confident and courageous girls, and I love that they recommend my books MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, RED, WHITE, AND … [Read more...]

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