Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent wherever she goes. Janelle’s artistic work is inspired by city life and the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora. She comes from a long line of educators and has spent nearly two decades teaching dance in NYC public schools. As a children’s author, Janelle is passionate about representation and hopes to create stories that make children fall more in love with themselves. When she’s not thinking about her next book, Janelle is at home enthusiastically playing along with TV game shows like The Price Is Right. https://www.janelleharperauthor.com

Awards

Starred reviews from Kirkus Review, Horn Book and Publishers Weekly, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Black Caucus ALA Best of the Best 2024, The Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025 Edition, 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People.

3 Fun Facts

1. My favorite animal is a unicorn.
2. My lucky number is 13.
3. I’ve visited 5 of the 7 continents (Australia and Antarctica are on my bucket list).