Lulu’s Nana Visits by Anna McQuinn & Ros Beardshaw
 is an absolute delight. Full of joy, love and family togetherness this is a must buy for early years settings and libraries for children aged 3+.
– Anne Thompson, A Library Lady Reviews
Readers in the US & Canada,
click on the cover for more!

There's also a link to information about the beautiful Tanzanian Kanga fabric that features in
the illustrations here.
Readers in the UK & Ireland,
click on the cover for more

There's also a link to information about the beautiful Tanzanian Kanga fabric that features in
the illustrations here.
Nanny visits from Tanzania with her suitcase of goodies.
Anna McQuinn’s carefully considered rich text;
Rosalind Beardshaw's clever, layered images.
I love the use of meaningful kanga bunting too. Celebrating maternal bonds; sharing of cultural traditions. Truly stunning! Out Aug! – Fabia Turner

Recently published (June 2023)

Picture
UK & Ireland edition, out NOW!! - click on the cover for more
Picture
USA & Canada edition, click on the cover for more
Such a fabulous book. So pleased to be adding this to the CLPE Power of Reading in 23/24… – Charlotte Hacking
The book with my little best friend arrived!
His face is adorable and look at mum!
Thanks Ruth and Anna for capturing the joy! They make me smile so much!
All Nursery, Reception and Y1 classes should have the series in as standard.
– Sonia Thompson, Headteacher/Director, St Matthew’s CE Research School

And coming soon...

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

Zeki Rise & Shine makes
the Booktrust Shortlist!

BookTrust Storytime Prize
highlighting the best books for sharing with babies and children under five.  
"The shortlisted titles are a brilliant collection of books that cover foundational aspects of early years learning and development."

Lulu selected for Brazil's PNLD programme

Brazil’s Programa Nacional do Livro Didático PNLD
is one of the largest national school book programs in the world. 
Each year, the program selects and purchases curricula for a set of primary or secondary school subjects.

Lulu's Brazilian Publishers, Pallas Editora (Publishers in the vanguard of Afro-Brasileiran publishing and nominees for BOP – Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year)
were delighted that 3 Lulu titles were selected in 2022 for the 2023 program.
Pallas Editora have created a wonderful set of rescources for teachers including this gorgeous video.

Zeki selected for CLPE Power of Reading Collection

Centre for Language
in Primary Education
Power of Reading 23/24 Collection
"Each year our teaching team selects new high-quality texts to add to our #PowerofReading books, and these fantastic titles from Anna McQuinn,
Joseph Coelho and Ken Wilson-Max
are our 23/24 #EYFS additions...
...the books on the Power of Reading
are very special books that provide any reader who encounters them to develop a deep and meaningful connection with the text.
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

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.
Picture
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!
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.
More...

My media

Click to follow me on Twitter
Click to visit my Facebook page
Click to visit my Goodreads page
Click to visit my Instagram page

I blog and write about gender,
diversity and inclusion.
Click on the Articles tab above
or here to read more.
Click here for the blog.

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
but perfectly formed,
and committed to diversity
in everything it does
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”.