NO CAT LIKE TAC

Coming March 25th

Disney-Hyperion

Meet Tac, an unusual cat! Her pounce shakes the house, her zoomies are a doozy, and her hairballs are . . . well, fireballs. But she’ll always be family. Right?

Perfect for fans of dragons and in the tradition of Not Quite Narwhal, this laugh-out-loud picture book shows that love can overcome even the biggest, most unlikely differences!

Pre-Order Here

Free Activity Sheet!

WE DIG FOSSILS.

Coming May 6

Step into Reading, Random House

Get out your shovels and fossil brushes for this delightful Step 2 reader following a family’s search for fossils!

Ava loves rocks! But what she really really loves are fossils! Ava and her family are on a mission to dig up some fossils. They dig in their backyard, in the park, and by the creek but still no fossils. But Ava will not give up! The family head out to the beach for one more fossil hunting adventure!

Will Ava finally be able to dig up her very own fossil?

Pre-Order Here!

ART'S ART

Coming May 6

Paw Prints

Teach kids about adaptability with this humorous, empathy-building Level 2 Paw Prints Reader.

More than anything, Cam loves to create art—he paints, he draws, he builds! What’s more, his dad loves to display these creations proudly all over their walls!

It’s no surprise that, when Dad surprises Cam with a rambunctious puppy, Cam names him Art. Art loves art just as much as Cam does. But Art makes a mess!

What will Cam do?

Pre-Order Here!

BLEXI, PLAY!

Out Now!

Paw Prints

Dealing with a stubborn smart home speaker results in welcome lessons about patience in this Level 2 early reader. Blexi listens to Mom and Blexi listens to Dad -- but Blexi doesn't listen to Liam! Also available in Spanish.

Order Here!

GREAT IDEA
MALIA!

Out Now!

Holiday House

Malia has big ideas and boundless energy for problem-solving her mom’s new job in this joyful picture book that’s perfect for young families juggling work and play.

Order Here!

MEET
ALLIAH!

Mom, Author, Marketer

Featured on ESSENCE.com, TODAY, Good Housekeeping and more.

BOOKS

BIO

BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE

FSG

Junior Library Guild Gold selection!

A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023

A Chicago Public Library Best Picture + Board Book

SCBWI Book Club Selection

"An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page."

-Kirkus, Starred Review

"Agostini’s buoyant rhyming verse pulses with details, and Knight-Justice’s stylized illustrations layer bold patterns and textures"

-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

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BIG TUNE FUN!

It is such an honor to be a member of the 18th class of The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later honorees. The Brown Bookshelf is comprised of a group of authors who are some of the G.O.A.T.s 🙌🏽of the Black kidlit community. They have generously used their blog and influence to amplify their fellow Black kidlit creatives via this initiative each February.

This year I’m lucky to be featured alongside people who are friends and collaborators, too! (I see you, boos!! 😉)

Thank you for seeing me, @tonyaellisbooks and @brownbookshelfteam @blackstoriesamplified team!

Learn more about my kidlit journey through my interview with Tonya Ellis in the article linked in my bio.

It’s time for Barnes & Noble’s 25% pre-order sale for all B&N Rewards Members! Pre-orders are crucial for our books’ success, and NO CAT LIKE TAC, SCARECITED, ART’S ART, and WE DIG FOSSILS are all included.
From now until Friday, Feb. 7th, enter PREORDER25 at checkout and join their free rewards program to qualify. Thank you!

Happy Black History Year. I’ve been Black since the day I was born and will be until the day I die, and I am so very proud of it. We will keep writing on. ✊🏽A special thank you to the incredible @jemiscoe for sealing the deal, @quartokids for your continued commitment to telling our stories, and the talented @oliviasmithart for your partnership in bringing the under-shared origins of this important holiday to life. Coming Fall ‘25.

2020’s Peekaboo.
2020-Now they see us… 2025- now they don’t. 😔 💔💔💔

I can’t wait for you all to meet Tyra, Tac, Max and their family! No Cat Like Tac is coming March 25th- two months away!
I recently did an interview reflecting on the next books I have coming out, and I didn’t realize how appropriate this next batch would be for our current moment. They are fun, they are silly, and they center giving our kids, especially our Black babies, a sense of joy! Be radical in your pursuit of joy, friends. We can’t let the world distract us. 💕P.S. Can you guess what a FURP is??? 😬🤭#nocatliketac #bookstagram

My dad wrote this poem for me for being a ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ award recipient in 5th grade at my beloved Alma mater, @cityhonorsschool .
I recently watched a clip (not posted) of my OWN 5th grader proudly singing a solo 🥹(!) at her school’s Martin Luther King assembly, 32 years later.
32 years, and MLK’s legacy- something already established decades before I was a 5th grader- is still as relevant as ever. As NEEDED as ever.
I don’t know what the coming days, months, or years will hold, but I implore each and every one of you to hold onto whatever ray of sunshine you need. Align yourself with goodness, hold fast to your faith, act with empathy, and don’t let the current status quo scare you away from being the change you need see.
Dad’s poem was a tall order. I’m grateful to have a family who has always believed in my potential 🥹, even when I didn’t. In ways I am still very much that chubby cheeked, stirrup pant- wearing (it was the 90s) 5th grader who always tried her best to make an impact wherever she went.
While it is tempting to stay in my corner, drink my water, and mind my 92% (IYKYK) business- it’s not in my nature- and I already know it’s not in my kids’ either. So, I will rest my fears with the only God I know and continue to believe in the power of the pen, my mind, and my heart to spread light and truth now more than ever. I implore you all to do whatever you are called to do, but most importantly, to lead your lives with a spirit of empathy and love.
xo,
Alliah
(P.S. On a MUCH lighter note, I had fun poking my dad for using the wrong ‘their’- his nickname in our house used to be ‘The critic’. I may be in publishing, but he’s the toughest editor I’ve ever had!)

So, I made my 2024 recap list. And, well… grateful is an understatement. (I still get giddy when I see those Oprah Reels, @cheftaffyelrod and @sawyercloud01 ! I also had too much fun with our family @mayasbooknook Great Idea Malia! dance-off!)

I’ve shared a lot of what’s been going on in the foreground over the year💕, and there’s more brewing in the background 😉, but I’d most love to close out the year with some thank yous.

To every collaborator who worked in front of and behind the scenes on my three 2024 releases: THE JUNETEENTH COOKBOOK, GREAT IDEA MALIA!, and BLEXI, PLAY! Thank you for lending your brilliance to breathe life into my words and ideas and to share them with children everywhere!

To every bookseller, journalist, reviewer, bookstagrammer, and podcaster who has highlighted my books- thank you for generously using your platform and influence to continue to amplify, distribute, and recommend my work. I wish I could tag all 80+ of you!!! (I actually counted!)

To every school, bookstore, museum, company, festival, and conference that has invited me to speak or table- thank you for giving this Leo a microphone, audience, and a break from writerly isolation!

To every individual who has read, purchased, borrowed, and/or recommended one of my books, come to one of my events (I’ve loved EVERY surprise reunion!), or recommended me for a speaking event or press feature- thank you.

To my family, friends, and kidlit community- thank you for your perpetual support, encouragement, wisdom, and for having faith in me to continue doing what I do.

Above all, I have to thank God for the privilege to do something that reflects the power and value of being able to authentically express myself, while also honoring the family and community who has helped make me who I am.

Remember, you all are just seeing the highlight reel of this journey. THIS IS NOT EASY. It’s filled with plenty of work and periods of doubt. But, without fail, these low moments have been met with much-needed reminders, or ‘God Winks’, to keep me on this path.
2024, thank you. Looking forward to 2025. Leggo!!!🏃🏽‍♀️💨

Forever grateful. Happy Holidays, everyone.

😆😆😆 FYI, I do enjoy a little light potty humor. 🤭🤭Merry Christmas.

We got a surprise delivery today… my very first copies of NO CAT LIKE TAC illustrated by @charlessantoso edited by @_syntactics_ and published by @disneybooks !!
By the way, clearly my children are getting very used to me bringing new book siblings home, and this little one with the Inside Out 2-level sarcasm… phew! The privilege! He’s lucky I can’t un-dedicate a book 🤪. (But I know he’s pretty excited, too.)
Anyways, this journey has continued to be such a blessing, through both the peaks AND the valleys-what a great way to end the year. Can’t wait for you all to meet Tyra, Tac, her dad, her bonus mom MOMica and her bonus kitty Max (or Maxine- as in Waters and Shaw- IYKYK) this March.
Available for pre-order now!!!
P.S. This video even had a cameo from the REAL Monica in our lives, my AUNT Monica. 🤗🤗

Thank you for the shout out, Meg @aliceeverafterbooks! Love seeing our Malia getting the attention she deserves. Buffalo goes hard for its people (I mean… if you’ve seen Bills fans at work, you know!!), and the Buffalo indie bookstore community is certainly a very special one. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful holiday treat. 🦬💕#buffalove #picturebook #greatideamalia

Know any kids with Main Character Energy? Kids you say have “Been here before”? (IYKYK) Boss kids with boss mamas? Meet Great Idea Malia! A perfect gift for kids who fit ANY of the above. Share and tag friends who could use a copy for their kiddos- it’s a great idea, after all. 😉. Written by 🙋🏽‍♀️ illustrated by the amazing @oliviadecastroart.

Oh, I was just getting started. The Juneteenth Story may be about Juneteenth, but its history is relevant all year. Give the gift of truth, especially to those who may have a hard time getting or sharing it in the classroom. 👀👀👀 The Juneteenth Story, author 🙋🏽‍♀️ illustrated by @sawyercloud01

Does your Christmas smell like sorrel? Do you remember Black Cake in a danish cookie tin? Does ackee and saltfish grace your Christmas breakfast plate? Or do you wish it did and you want to share the culture with the kids and kids at heart in your life?? IYKYK 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 Share the joy of BIG TUNE by me and illustrated by the one and only @shamarknightjustice.

Congratulations to Team The Juneteenth Cookbook on being named A Best Book of 2024 by @shelf.awareness- thank you for ‘seeing’ our book!! Proud to be part of this team that brought the cookout to the page. I am forever grateful to spread the beauty of Black joy and culture through this important work. P.S. Sawyer- we’re going to get a REAL picture together one of these days!! 🖤❤️💚✊🏽

I mean, we can at least save the next generation, right @cheftaffyelrod? 😬🤷🏽‍♀️ The Juneteenth Cookbook is available wherever books are sold. The recipes and proportions are perfect for any holiday meal. #holidaygifts

We love pie. Pie good enough to make you do a lil dance. 😆 Gotta add some Rick James, because 🦬 and all. 😉

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Sending love to everyone today, whether your day is one of celebration, mourning, or something in between. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ P.S. If food is a centerpiece of your day, I pray each cook stayed in their lane. 👀👀👀😬😘

Love any bright spot I can catch over this past week, but I must say, I can always count on that good, hometown BuffaLOVE 🥰🥰🥰 Thank you to the wonderful team at @aliceeverafterbooks for including Great Idea Malia! in its 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. So glad you love this book as much as we do!

I’ll be fully transparent right now- it’s been hard to get this book the attention it deserves. Unlike most of my other books, it hasn’t yet received a single review in a trade publication to date 😖, which is generally very helpful for getting the attention of librarians and booksellers. But the magic I’ve seen and heard anecdotally when families read the book and see themselves in the characters or the story is EXACTLY what I was hoping would happen when I initially developed a story about a brilliant, busy little girl and her loving, patient, but also busy mother!
I love being able to share this dope duo of Black Girl and Black Mama Magic with those who deeply appreciate them, while celebrating their brilliance, love, and beauty that reflects so many people I know, love, and admire.
So, to Meg and the team at @aliceeverafterbooks thank you from the very bottom of my heart. 🦬❤️ #greatideamalia #holidaygiftguide #holidayhouse

#mood We did our part, 🙏🏽 the rest of the country did theirs. Feeling nauseously optimistic.

Saw this and had to steal.

I have to give a giant shout out to everyone who has been canvassing, calling, organizing, fundraising, etc to make sure our country has a chance to move forward in a way that will best serve our future. THANK YOU. Our victory (🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽!!) will be because of your efforts.

This is uncomfortable, but I have to confess, this election I haven’t been nearly as active as I intended to be- I donated where I could, but I found myself paralyzed and overwhelmed by all that was going on around me. As a Black woman- the ones I know the party expected to get to work (as we always do, and as many did!) I felt a special layer of guilt. If any of you felt similarly, know you are not alone. 😔

But here I am now, for whatever it is worth. Please vote for Harris-Walz. Please make sure everyone you know does, too. This is not just a vote that could help people of color or women preserve what should be inalienable rights, but EVERYBODY… even the people who claim to hate this ticket.

Why is this election close? Because somehow proximity to patriarchy seems to feel empowering to some. But I challenge those same people to find the power in THEMSELVES instead of hitching their wagon to a rabid horse who leads with hatred for the people he claims to want to lead.

Remember, the presidential election is not all that is at stake- there are offices open up and down each ballot that will ALSO have measurable impact on each of our individual communities, the nation, and the world.
The hard won rights that were lost because of the influence of one administration should be considered warning shots for the rest of the destruction that could come under another Trump presidency- things with lasting impact on the legacy of those who fought for our rights, and those who don’t yet have the right to vote.

Again, please vote, and please make sure all in your sphere of influence do, too.

Let’s get this done. 💪🏽🗳️

I had to do be my spirit animal for Halloween this year. Had candy and play-doh in my purse. 🥳🤣🤣🤣 Not gonna lie- a lot of people were wondering why I was being a “patriotic elephant”… le sigh! but @oliviadecastroart and I will be in Brooklyn at @greenlightbklyn for a #GreatIdeaMalia storytime tomorrow, Saturday, at 11am- I think I may find more Ellie lovers there. Should I bring her back?? 😉 (We still need to take our annual family shot! We had a creepy doll, a ninja, Black Lightning, and yours truly 🥰.) Fun but exhausting day. Happy #Halloween! #elloweencontest

Hi, everyone!! We’ll be popping up in Montclair, Brooklyn, and also Manhattan to celebrate Great Idea Malia! If you’re free, come join us at @booksofwonder (JUST ADDED- 10/27 @ 11:30am) @watchungbooksellers (10/27 @ 2pm) OR @greenlightbklyn (11/2 @ 11am)! We’ll have a read-aloud, a little live art, and the opportunity to have your book signed by both of us! Nice, right?? 😉😉 See you soon!! #greatideamalia

How it’s going… how it started 😬. 🍪🧵🪡🇬🇾🇺🇸🇨🇳🇬🇭🇮🇹…
Thrilled to finally be able to announce this- it’s going to be such a fun one!!! 🤭 Thank you, @lueditsbooks for seeing the potential with this one, @tayloradamsbass for blessing it with your adorable art, and @mirandapaulbooks for sealing the deal. Hope this book makes it on your Holiday 2026 gifting list! P.S. This is a prime example of how an idea is born from a powerful insight. Let’s hope you all love the end result! P.P.S. We currently have two danish cookie tins in the cupboard we wouldn’t dare recycle. One even contains cookies. 🙃 P.P.P.S. What more appropriate song choice than We Are the World?? 😜#bookannouncement #picturebook #cookietin #danishcookies #cookietinsewingkit #diaspora

When asked how Malia inspired her to help, Ms. Seren, one of our favorite 5 year olds, responded… “I’m going to drive myself to school!🤭🤭😆 (She added a giggle, of course.) #greatideasfromgreatkids #greatideamalia #holidayhouse

Obviously you all know I love books. This year I celebrated 5 years as a book fair chair, and the last time at the sweetest little school in the ‘Clair! 🥹. It has been an honor to meet hundreds of little ones over the years, to see them grow up, and to help encourage them to buy books with words and pictures and not just fuzzy journals and berry-scented erasers. 😬 While we all know some fairs have not been without some hiccups at a corporate level because of the choices of other districts😒, I’m glad to be in a district that encourages books with diverse protagonists and fREADom in general. It’s been an honor and privilege to work alongside dozens of volunteers to help spread book joy year after year! If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to volunteer- it’s really the best!!!#bookfair #bookfairchair

A little #greatideamalia inspired #mondaymotivation gratitude moment from one of my favorite humans. 🥰🥰🥰 If you have any quotes you’d like to highlight, send them along to me and I’ll tag you if I feature them! 🥰🥰

Hey NY/NJ people! We’ll be doing a couple of fun launch events to celebrate #greatideamalia over the next few weeks at @watchungbooksellers in Montclair and @greenlightbklyn in Fort Greene. Come hang out with us as we do a reading and an art activity. Hope to see you! RSVP via the links in bio. #greatideamalia #authorevents #njkidsevents #brooklynkidsactivities #booklaunch

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