Janet Costa Bates
Children's Book Author
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Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Rica Baptista is living the good life. Grampy, the best grampy of all grampies, is coming to visit, and Adventure Week, the best week of all weeks, is finally here. Adventure Week with Grampy is always the most fun week of the year. But when Grampy hobbles into the house on crutches, Adventure Week turns into a 'stayventure.' Can Rica, her best friend Laini, Grampy dream up enough shenanigans to keep their week from being adventure-less?
In this series sequel, Rica’s ready for Grampy’s arrival and can’t wait for their upcoming Adventure Week. . . . A delightful book full of funny moments, great relationships, and learning opportunities for Rica and Laini.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Rica Baptista wants—no, needs—a pet. A llama, a kinkajou, or maybe an iguana? Rica can’t tell anyone the real reason she wants a pet, because she’s not supposed to know—she overheard that her best friend, Laini, is moving away, and she worries about being left behind. Willing to try almost anything, Rica and Laini try all sorts of schemes to raise money to afford a pet. In a rich and amusing story that will appeal to fans of Judy Moody and Ivy and Bean, a sincere and creative protagonist navigates friend and family relationships from funny to frustrating, endearing to insightful.
Oh, garbanzo beans! You’ll be sorry if you wait to meet big-hearted Rica, who discovers the joy of family, friendship, pets, and the power of finding her own voice.
—Megan McDonald, New York Times best-selling author of the Judy Moody series
Rica is a welcome addition to the chapter book scene—she’s funny, determined, and kind. Readers will be rooting for Rica as she goes after her dream of getting a pet. I crown Rica Baptista the Queen of Trying!
—Debbi Michiko Florence, award-winning author of the Jasmine Toguchi series
TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE
Illustrated by Gladys Jose
Published by Candlewick Press
Isaac is excited about having a sleepover at Grandpop’s house, but he’s a little nervous about being away from home for the first time. Luckily, his knowing Grandpop tells him it’s not quite time to go to bed yet—first, he needs Isaac’s help in putting the house to bed. TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE will help your family embrace a new nighttime tradition.
A fine, uplifting intergenerational story of literacy, literature, and homemade love.
- The Horn Book
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NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work Nominee 2022
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School Library Journal and Bank Street Books Best Books of the Year Lists 2021
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Starred reviews - Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School and Library Journal, and the Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books
SEASIDE DREAM
Illustrated by Lambert Davis
Published by Lee and Low Books
Family. Food. Presents.
Everything seems ready for Grandma’s birthday celebration but will Cora figure out what her Cape Verdean* grandmother really wants?
A moving portrayal of a grandparent-grandchild relationship as well as a distinctive take on universal aspects of immigration.
- Kirkus Reviews
Lee and Low New Voices Honor Award
About
Janet Costa Bates started writing poems and stories in the third grade, but it wasn't until she had her own children that she finally realized what she wanted to do with her writing skills. She developed a passion for writing children's literature.
Her first book, SEASIDE DREAM, is a story about immigration that was inspired by her own Cape Verdean born grandmother. It was a Lee and Low New Voices Honor Award winner.
Picture book TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE received four starred reviews and was an NAACP Image Award Nominee. The Horn Book calls it 'a fine, uplifting intergenerational story of literacy, literature, and homemade love.'
The Rica Baptista chapter book series features a Cape Verdean American girl navigating family and friend relationships. Both LLAMAS, IGUANAS, AND MY VERY BEST FRIEND and A WEEK OF are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.
Fun Fact
'Seaside Dream' was chosen to be included in the Children's Room mural at the main Boston Public Library. It's a little hard to see from this picture so you'll just have to trust me.
OR take a trip to the BPL.
EVENTS AND SCHOOL VISITS
I love connecting with kids whether doing an interactive storytime or helping them to come up with their own story ideas and characters. Please send a message (form below) regarding your request and I will get back to you regarding availability and fees. I also manage to keep adults entertained at conferences and am available for in-person and virtual events.
'Creating Characters!' presentation at the Hosmer School in Watertown, MA
SELECTED PROGRAM OPTIONS
Creating Characters!
50 Minutes - Recommended for 3rd through 5th Grade
Recommended Books: LLAMAS, IGUANAS, AND MY VERY BEST FRIEND or A WEEK OF SHENANIGANS
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Guided activity to help students create their very own characters
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Bonus: Students will also learn a little about Cape Verde, as well as a few Kriolu words and phrases
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(This session has also been done with older students using a picture book)
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Optional: 'Creating Stories!' can be scheduled at a discounted fee at a later date for the same students
Let’s Learn about Cape Verde!
50 minutes - Recommended for 2nd through 4th Grade
Recommended Books: SEASIDE DREAM, LLAMAS, IGUANAS, AND MY VERY BEST FRIEND, or A WEEK OF SHENANIGANS
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Cape Verdean (or is it Cabo Verdean?!) history, immigration, and… volcanoes!
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Students will learn a few Kriolu words and phrases
Storytime
30 minutes - Recommended for Pre-K through 1st Grade
Recommended Books: TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE or SEASIDE DREAM
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Read book; Q&A; Bonus stories/poems if time allows
Wait! How in the World Did I Get Here? The Author Journey
Time and grade level adjusted as necessary
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The challenges and the joys of the author journey
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Q&A
For a sneak peek at one of my school visits, check out this article from a Thayer Academy visit.
Contact Me
(with your parent's permission if you're under 18)
Represented by Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary
ssulaiman@talcottnotch.net
