Since 1967, on Hans Christian Andersen's birthday (April 2), International Children's Book Day is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.
In honor of the day, we're celebrating our Mandel School faculty members who are also children book authors. 📚
Adrianne M. Fletcher
In May 2024, Adrianne M. Fletcher, assistant professor, published Helping Hands, Healing Hands with the Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
“Geared to the four- to eight-year old, Helping Hands, Healing Hands is about family engagement, work ethic and planning for the future,” Fletcher explained. “Caring and invested adults can help children think about not only what kind of work they want to do one day, but also what kind of person they want to be when they grow up."
Learn more and purchase a copy of Helping Hands, Healing Hands
Megan R. Holmes
In September 2024, Megan R. Holmes, professor and co-director of the Center on Trauma and Adversity, published a children's coloring book titled, Dream Big: A Coloring Adventure for Girls.
Holmes had noticed a lack of diversity in children’s coloring books, so she created her own. Dream Big: A Coloring Adventure for Girls celebrates differences in race, ability and body type—depicting girls with a range of hair textures, body shapes and abilities, all engaging in activities that highlight creativity, intelligence and kindness. The book has received glowing feedback from parents and educators for its empowering themes and inclusive imagery.
She is now working on a follow-up: an adult coloring book focused on female leadership.
Learn more and order a copy of Dream Big
A lifelong creative Holmes is also the co-illustrator of Jammie Claus: The Christmas Tradition of Unconditional Giving is a children's book about Mrs. Claus, who delivers pajamas on Christmas Eve.
When her young son asked about “Jammie Claus,” she turned her family’s Christmas Eve pajama tradition into a children’s book. Co-created by four generations of women in her family, the book reimagines Mrs. Claus as a strong, compassionate leader who delivers pajamas to all children, spreading a message of kindness and inclusion. The story reflects Holmes’ research on resilience and empowerment, with proceeds from related products supporting community programs.