Super-Short Bio (62 words)
Anika Aldamuy Denise is the author of ten picture books including the Pura Belpré author honor-winning Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré and A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!. Raised in Queens, New York, she now lives with her husband and three daughters in Rhode Island. Visit her online at anikadenise.com.
Short Bio (107 words)
Award-winning author Anika Aldamuy Denise writes stories that tickle her funny bone, tug her heartstrings, feed her curiosity, and celebrate her bicultural Puerto Rican/ Italian-American heritage. She is the author of ten picture books including the Pura Belpré-honor winning Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré and the forthcoming A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!. In addition to writing, she is a Madrina for Las Musas and supports LatinxPitch. Raised in Queens, New York, she now lives with her husband and three daughters in Rhode Island. To find out more about Anika’s books, visit her website anikadenise.com.
Longer Bio (228 words)
Anika Aldamuy Denise writes award-winning fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. Her picture book Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré, illustrated by Paola Escobar, was the recipient of the 2020 Pura Belpré Author Honor, NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor for Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction, and the Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for Early Readers. Planting Stories was also named a Best Children’s Book of 2019 by Smithsonian Magazine, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, and the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature.
Anika’s books have been featured in The New York Times, Today.com, Kids Indie Next List, Book Riot, Junior Library Guild, and the Children’s Book Council’s Around the World Showcase. Her newest picture book is A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!, illustrated by Leo Espinosa, was named one of A Mighty Girl’s Best Books of 2020.
In addition to writing, Anika is a frequent speaker in elementary schools, high schools, and universities—as well as organizations like SCBWI and the Writers’ Loft of Massachusetts—where she leads workshops in creative writing and diversity in kids’ literature.
Raised in Queens, New York, Anika now lives in Rhode Island with her husband and three daughters. To learn more about Anika’s books, visit her website anikadenise.com.
Hi Res Author Photo
Full List of Awards & Honors
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré/ Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos: Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre
• 2020 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book
• 2020 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction
• Winner of the 2020 Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for Early Readers
• Smithsonian’s Ten Best Children’s Books of 2019
• 2020 American Library Association Notable Book
• NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
• Junior Library Guild Gold Award
• TODAY.com Best Children’s Books of 2019
• School Library Journal Best Books of 2019
• NYPL, CPL & LAPL Best Books of 2019
• Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature Best Books of 2019
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year 2020
• Kids Indie Next List Pick
• New England Book Award Finalist
• Rhode Island Latino Books Month Finalist
• South Carolina Book Awards Nominee
• Volunteer State Book Award Tennessee Library Association Nominee
• 2021 Monarch Award Nominee
• Bank Street College of Education Best Spanish Language Picture Book Silver Award Winner
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Spanish Language Children’s Book of the Year 2020 Edition
• An American Library Association Best Spanish Language Book 2020