UK & Ireland edition, out May 2023 - click on the cover for more
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USA & Canada edition, click on the cover for more
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The book with my little best friend arrived! This is my favourite spread! His face is adorable and look at mum! Thanks Ruth and Anna for capturing the joy! |
Thank you @AlannaMaxBooks for this colourful & lively picturebook about Zeki and his friend, Yu. I so enjoyed seeing spreads that had flats in them alongside open and modern parks. So much care and cost has gone into production that the colours zing off the pages." |
And coming later in 2023...
Readers in the UK & Ireland, it's Lulu's Nana Visits - click on the title for more Readers in the US & Canada, it's Lola's Nana-Bibi Comes to Visit - click on the title |
Readers in the UK & Ireland,
it's Zeki Hikes with Daddy - click on the title for more Readers in the US & Canada, it's Leo on a Hike - click on the title for more |
Books of the Year - Books for Keeps, November 2022
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Charlotte Hacking, Central Learning Programmes Director at CLPE
"Books for the youngest readers are often taken for granted, but it a real and specific skill to craft and illustrate narratives for this age group. Zeki Rise and Shine and Zeki Sleep Tight by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson (Alanna Max) deserve applause and celebration. This is a team of writer, illustrator and publisher who deeply understand their audience and how to engage and enchant their readers and cater for their specific needs. These quiet stories centre on real and everyday experiences that every child can relate to. The rich and evocative language enriches a growing vocabulary and invites the reader to join in. The carefully observed illustrations capture attention, build visual literacy skills and richly develop characters and their world. The books are published perfectly for tiny hands – in a perfect size, with heavyweight paper and rounded corners. Perfect reads for 0-5 year olds. |
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CLPE (Centre for Language in Primary Education) Reflecting Realities Report 2022
A survey of ethnic representation in UK Children's Literature in 2021, it has statistics and figures on all aspects of representation but far more importantly, a rich and informative commentary on these findings – absolutely essential reading for anyone involved in children's literature. It's an abslute thrill that the three Lulu and Zeki books (pictured above - from the report) that were published in 2021 (the timeframe of the study) are all picked out for a special mention, listed with three other books as "carefully crafted titles with characters with agency, who are identifiable, relatable, nuanced..." Click on the cover opposite to download the report. Click here to read the commentary about the survey |
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To buy my books
Please support independent bookshops and buy my books from them whever you can.
If the title you want is not on the shelves, most bookshops can order the book for you. They can look it up on their system, but having the title and format you want in advance will speed up the process. Some of the titles are available in hardcover and paperback and some (for little kids) are printed on card or board. All the details are on the Publishers' websites. |
Guess who made it on to the Essence 50 Must-Read Black Children's Books of the Past 50 Years!
Yes, it's our girl Lola! Look at what amazing company she's in! Just wow!
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UK & Ireland
Alanna Max Catalogue is here. Their website is here. If you're struggling to find the books in ireland, can I recommend Kenny's Online Bookshop |
USA & Canada
Charlesbridge website is here. |
About me...
I feel lucky to have a life 100% dedicated to books -
I write and edit books for little kids and their families. I'm best known as the author of the Lulu/Lola books, though I've written over 25 picture books. 
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My media
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Publishers
In the UK and Ireland, the Lulu and Zeki books are books are published by Alanna Max.
In the US and Canada, Lola and Leo books are published by Charlesbridge Publishing. The Lulu & Zeki books are also published in Denmark by Forlaget Arvids, in Netherlands by Luister, in Brazil by Pallas, in Sweden by EPIX, in Korea by Glburri and in China by ICP. My books are also published by Barefoot Books, Chicken-House/Scholastic, Little Tiger, Annick Press and O'Brien Press. |
Alanna Books is small |
As well as writing, I am Editor-at-Large at Alanna Max
For more, click here. Alanna Books (as it was first called) was extremely proud to be shortlisted for the inaugural Independent Publishers Guild's The Alison Morrison Diversity Award Judges' comments "Alanna Books receives its first ever shortlist place at the IPG Independent Publishing Awards this year. Set up in 2006, it is committed to diversity in the characters and storylines of its books for children and parents. Judges admired its efforts to make its books commercial as well as critical successes, and liked its imaginative partnerships and events. Alanna Books is small but perfectly formed, and committed to diversity in everything it does”. |