Rajani LaRocca
@rajanilarocca.bsky.social
2022 Newbery Honoree, Walter Award, Golden Kite winner. Doctor, author of MG & PB, fiction & nonfiction, prose & poetry. Pro-democracy, pro-reproductive freedom, anti-book bans. Rep: Brent Taylor www.RajaniLaRocca.com
Pop! Goes The Reader's Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books: July-September 2026 popgoesthereader.com/45-most-anti... #BookSky #KidLit #YALit
M/J #HBMag #HBPubPreviews #5Qs for @rajanilarocca.bsky.social (Quill Tree/ @harperkids.bsky.social ): "I’ve always wanted to understand the true meaning of Sita’s story [wife of Rama from the great Hindu epic the RAMAYANA], + SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS is my attempt to do so" www.hbook.com/story/publis...
Publishers' Preview: Diverse Voices: Five Questions for Rajani LaRocca
From the May/June 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.
hbook.com
In THE PATRIOTS & THE POX smallpox is an unseeable & complex antagonist.😳What's a writer to do? Here are some mentor texts & authors' solutions to challenging "characters." And a peek at the POX! #edusky #skybrarian #edusky @ashleyyazdani.bsky.social @kl4gm.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social
MOWMT 4: Character Challenges with Beth Anderson
By Beth Anderson While fiction books may portray emotions as monsters or other types of characters, nonfiction seems to present a different kind of challenge when you’re working with complex concepts ...
rateyourstory.org
It's really special when both the top and honor spot of any given award go to your members! Congratulations to @rajanilarocca.bsky.social & @viviankirkfield.bsky.social for their #SCBWI Golden Kite wins in the nonfiction for younger readers category! So proud of you both.
✨ SOME OF US by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social and Huy Voun Lee ✨ HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander and Charly Palmer ✨ GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris and @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social
Rajani LaRocca will be sharing her work at CCIRA 2026 in Denver www.rajanilarocca.com February 5-7, 2026. Register today ccira.org @ColoradoReading Don't miss her! #CCIRA26 @rajanilarocca.bsky.social
Rajani LaRocca – Award-winning Children's Book Author
Award-winning Children's Book Author
rajanilarocca.com
During the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Verse Novelist Retreat last year @rajanilarocca.bsky.social gave me some great feedback about the beginning of my NIV. This looks like a great course with her! And one that helps grow your story!
Diving Into Your Novel: An Online Generative Workshop - Highlights Foundation
highlightsfoundation.org
I finished my first full week of classes. We read Fall is for Beginnings by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social. Students really connected with the story. A great way to start the school year.
1st graders are learning about the human body, so we read YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social w/art by @laurenpaigeconrad.bsky.social then used toothpicks, marshmallows & ❤️ stickers to make tools to measure their ❤️beats. They were fascinated! #SchoolLibrary #TLSky #EduSky #kidlit
I'm no @fuse8.bsky.social but here are my standout titles of summer and fall 2025: jenny-arch.com/2025/10/15/f... @brianlies.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @dansantat.bsky.social @charlenedraws.bsky.social @adamrex.bsky.social @tkingfisher.com @katemilford.bsky.social @katemessner.com
Fall (and Summer) Standouts
Back in early April I wrote about my “spring standouts,” books published in 2025 that I’d read and thought were stellar. I think I’d intended to write another in the summer …
jenny-arch.com
Delighted to be presenting on 2 incredible panels at #ncte! 10 Ways to Nurture Nonfiction Readers @mstewartscience.bsky.social & 6 Small Actions: Empowering Children @jyotigopal.bsky.social @jstremer.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @mnewsome.bsky.social @andrewchacket.bsky.social #kidlit
Teachers! Librarians! It's time for the Sibert Smackdown. The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction. tinyurl.com/3c9harym @sarahalbee.bsky.social @lindsayhmetcalf.bsky.social @juanamartinezn.bsky.social @safajarwrites.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @mcusolito.bsky.social
Excited for #NCTE2025 in Denver this year! I'm looking forward to moderating panels with some amazing authors! Let me know if you're attending, would love to connect. @meganefreeman.bsky.social @sylvialiu.bsky.social @baronchrisbaron.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social
Teachers! Librarians! It's time for the Sibert Smackdown. The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction. tinyurl.com/3c9harym @epartridge.bsky.social @kellycrull.bsky.social @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social @4nikkolas.bsky.social @jessicalanan.bsky.social @chrishsu1861.bsky.social
Back to school! Here are two new picture books to help ease the transition. @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @abhialwar.bsky.social kidsbookaday.com/2025/08/18/b...
Back to school
I’m back to school this morning, so here are two more books to kick off the new year! If you’re looking for more ideas, check out my back-to-school book list. Fall Is for Beginnings by …
kidsbookaday.com
Q&A with Rajani LaRocca about her new children's picture book, FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS. tinyurl.com/2udajak9 @rajanilarocca.bsky.social
@rajanilarocca.bsky.social and Huy Voun Lee's SOME OF US is the recommended picture book for September in @neatoday.bsky.social's Read Across America! Bring this brilliant celebration of immigration and citizenship into your classroom with the activities and discussion prompts linked below. 🎇
❤️💐 Happy Book Birthday to FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by longtime Kweli fam @rajanilarocca.bsky.social and @abhialwar.bsky.social! 🍁
Triada US Lit Agency@triadaus.bsky.social · last yr.Happy publication day to FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social! #TeamTriada #BookSky www.abramsbooks.com/product/fall...
Congratulations to Lit Fest alum @rajanilarocca.bsky.social on the publication of FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS, a back-to-school picture book that celebrates friendship and finding your place.
Happy publication day to FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social! #TeamTriada #BookSky www.abramsbooks.com/product/fall...
Who’s speaking at #picturebookpalooza ? I’m glad you asked! @kateallenfox.bsky.social @benjamingottwald.bsky.social @isabellakung.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social Mac Barnett, Shawn Harris and @stacymcanulty.bsky.social to name a few! 🎉 It’s FREE, see my previous post to register 🥳
Today's the day! Register now for @slj.com's free virtual Picture Book Palooza, featuring creators you love: 📚 Leigh Bardugo and @johnpicacio.bsky.social 📚 Toni Yuly 📚 Christian Cooper 📚 @rajanilarocca.bsky.social Schedule and registration: www.slj.com/event/slj-pi...
Looking forward to hearing @fuse8.bsky.social and Drew Beckmeyer talk at 12:55. And I'm moderating the Strangers in a New Land panel at 3:50, talking to @rajanilarocca.bsky.social, Elizabeth Brown, and Jenan Matari! #PictureBookPalooza