Rajani LaRocca

Award-winning Children's Book Author

Celebrating Math Picture Books on ReFoReMo!

If you want to write picture books, you need to read picture books — lots of them! Reading For Research Month, or ReFoReMo, is a fantastic resource for learning about all kinds of recent picture books. This year, I wrote a guest post featuring recent picture books that celebrate math! Check out the … [Read more...]

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS Cover Reveal and Interview with Mr. Schu!

I am overjoyed to share the cover of my debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, which will release this year from Lee & Low Books, gorgeously illustrated by the incredible Archana Sreenivasan, on Mr. Schu's blog! The brilliant cover is below, and you can read my interview with Mr. Schu here! … [Read more...]

“Leap Into Publishing” with SCBWI Central-South Ohio!

I was honored to be asked by SCBWI Central-South Ohio to be faculty for their day-long workshop, "Leap Into Publishing," at the Columbus Main Public Library on February 29, 2020! I was joined by my fantastic agent, Brent Taylor, and another client of his, L. Philips. Brent gave an informative … [Read more...]

MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM Featured by Middle Grade at Heart!

I was honored to have MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM chosen as the January 2020 book club selection for Middle Grade at Heart! Check out the January newsletter for a Q & A, cool recipes, a writing activity, and artistic activity! Subscribe to the Middle Grade at Heart newsletter to find more awesome MG … [Read more...]

A Nerdy Book Award!

Each year since 2011, the Nerdy Book Club, a remarkable group of book bloggers and educators, selects its favorite books of the year. I was thrilled and honored to find that MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM is on their list of 2019 middle grade novels! Check out this incredible list of books, and watch your TBR … [Read more...]

Farewell 2019, Hello 2020!

Last year, I chose a theme word for 2019 using this word generator and got "savor," which felt perfect for me and my baking-themed debut novel. Here's what I said looking ahead to 2019: 2019 is going to be full of exciting moments, and I'm going to try to savor them, to slow down and revel a bit … [Read more...]

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. … [Read more...]

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. … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

Tweens Read!!

I was so incredibly lucky to be a part of Tweens Read, an astounding book festival put on by Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, TX!! On Friday evening, I got to meet fellow authors in the lovely bookstore, enjoy some snacks, and add my signature to the wall of authors!! The next day, we gathered at … [Read more...]

Panel at Books of Wonder!!

I was honored and utterly thrilled to be on a Great Middle Grade Reads panel at Books of Wonder in downtown NYC with my dear friends and tremendous fellow authors Chris Baron, Jessica Kramer, Josh Levy, and Cory Leonardo! At the packed event, we chatted about our novels, our writing processes, and … [Read more...]

The Second Annual JPST Writing Retreat!

The best part of being a debut middle grade author is the wonderful friends I've made along the way. And once again, I was lucky to reconnect with some of my best author friends — Chris Baron, Jessica Kramer, Cory Leonardo, Josh Levy, Gillian McDunn, Naomi Milliner, and Nicole Panteleakos — at the … [Read more...]

My TWEENS READ Interview with Blue Willow Bookshop!

I am over the moon to be heading to TWEENS READ in Houston, TX this October!! In preparation for this incredible book festival, Blue Willow Bookshop interviewed me about writing, baking, and MIDSUMMER'S MAYHEM! Read the interview here. … [Read more...]

Kids’ Baking Contest at Belmont Books!!

Years ago when I was first drafting MIDSUMMER'S MAYHEM, little did I know that I would get to go to a fabulous independent bookstore and hold A Kids' Baking Contest inspired by my book! That's what happened today, and it was more fun than I could have envisioned. I spoke about and read from … [Read more...]

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