I believe there's power in picture books.
A good picture book entertains for a while. A great one stays with you forever.
I’ve carried memories of picture books that have made an impact on me. And as I’ve come into my own career as a writer, I’ve found writing kid lit to be a meaningful fit.
When I decided to write for children, my wish was to impart knowledge, positivity, and fun to a young audience who consistently hungers for it.
My stories are for kids who are going through their own journeys of joy and struggle.
And it is my hope that when they pick up my book, it will make their day a little bit brighter.
Some of my fondest memories were when I had a picture book in hand.
There is so much joy in a picture book: The delight of the words and illustrations, and the beautiful memories of enjoying it with family.
I write social emotional learning stories inspired by real childhood experiences. At the same time, I also enjoy my share of humor and lyricism!
Basically, I write the stories I wish I had as a kid.
In 2022, I made my picture book debut with the release of The Jealous Little Munchkin; a story influenced by my own experience of becoming a big sister. When Munchkin’s younger sister joins the family (a puppy named Buttercup), Munchkin must learn how to adjust as this big change disrupts the life she’d always known.
Since publishing this book, I now have 22+ manuscripts in draft, with some I’m preparing to query for traditional publication.
The goal is to get my stories out to the kids that need them most. An aspiration I look forward to fulfilling someday!
Ali’s well-crafted stories feature a cast of adorable characters, playful surprises, and effortlessly evoke the emotions at the heart of childhood in its purest form. Her lyrical narratives inspire curiosity while delivering masterful whispers of deep human understanding. With an imaginative gift for storytelling, she puts the ‘spark’ in sparkle and captures the whimsy of childhood days past.
–Renata Illustrata, Contributing author of As the Snow Drifts, a Cozy Winter Anthology