Rajani LaRocca

Award-winning Children's Book Author

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...]

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...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE Wins a 2022 Newbery Honor!

I'm over the moon that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won a Newbery Honor Award!! Given to "most distinguished American children's book published the previous year," this is the oldest children's book award in the world! I'm so grateful to the Newbery Committee and the American Library Association for … [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...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE Wins a 2021 Nerdy Book Club Award!

I'm absolutely thrilled that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has won a 2021 Nerdy in the Poetry/Verse Novel Category! I'm honored that this book of my heart has touched so many. Take a look at all the winners!   … [Read more...]

My interview on Voice of America’s “Dropping In” with Diane Dewey!

I loved talking to Diane Dewey on her show "Dropping In" on Voice of America. We chatted about writing, family, "otherness," and food (of course!) and my books WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, and MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM! Listen to the full interview here!   … [Read more...]

A HUGE Giveaway to End 2021!

2021 has been quite a year . . . in the midst of some very difficult times, I've been very grateful to release SIX books this year! To celebrate, I'm giving away a bundle of signed copies all eight of my books, including my novels MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2021 Project LIT Book Club Selection!

I'm honored and thrilled that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2021 Project LIT Book Club Selection! Project LIT is a grassroots literacy movement that includes more than 2,000 schools (or chapters) across all 50 states, along with a few international chapters! I'm so thrilled to connect with teachers and … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a New York Public Library Best Book of 2021!

I'm so excited and honored that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has been chosen by the New York Public Library as a Best Book of 2021! I also have a lot of friends on this list — read the whole list here. Hooray for libraries and beautiful books! … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a School Library Journal Best Middle Grade of 2021!

I'm thrilled and honored that RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE has been selected as a Best Middle Grade Book of 2021 by School Library Journal alongside some stellar books by friends! See the whole list here! … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a 2022 NCTE Notable Verse Novel!

I'm so honored that the National Council of Teachers of English has named RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE as a 2022 Notable Verse Novel alongside some other incredible books! The Poetry Award Committee's criteria included: A narrative told in poetic form. Excellence in writing and emotional impact: … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a BookPage Best Middle Grade of 2021!

I'm thrilled and honored to see RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE on BookPage's list of Ten Best Middle Grade and Chapter Books of 2021! They say the book "showcases the best of what verse can do, telling a story that is spare and direct and rings with truth." I'm so incredibly delighted to see RED, WHITE, AND … [Read more...]

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is the Winner of the 2021 New England Book Award in Middle Grade!

I'm SO honored and overjoyed that the New England Independent Booksellers Association has chosen RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE as the winner of the 2021 New England Book Award in Middle Grade! The winners were announced at NEIBA's Masked Ball, and although the event was virtual, we could all feel the love … [Read more...]

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