The best picture books for all ages

Why am I passionate about this?

I have published over 50 books, including award-winning and bestselling titles. I am also a publishing executive and editor with 20+ years of professional experience. My latest The Twins of Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of  Young Girl Surviving Mengele’s Hell, with Eva Kor, got a stellar review by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and is an international bestseller. As well as spearheading four publishing startups, I have run my own business, Editorial Services of L.A. I was Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan, Intervisual Books, Hooked on Phonics, and more. I am also the Publisher & Editor in Chief of NY Journal Of Books, the premier online-only book review site.


I wrote...

Book cover of The Twins of Auschwitz: The inspiring true story of a young girl surviving Mengele's hell

What is my book about?

Eva Mozes Kor was just ten years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Subjected to sadistic medical experiments, she was forced to fight daily for her and her twin's survival. In this incredible true story written for young adults, readers learn of a child's endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil.

The book also includes an epilogue on Eva's recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Monster Mama

Lisa Rojany Why did I love this book?

A literal splash of colors by Stephen Gammel makes this picture book beautiful to behold. Liz Rosenberg tells the tale of a little boy who, with the help of his fierce Monster Mama, is able to mend bridges with some wild boys who threaten him. The surprise ending is wonderful—and delicious!

By Liz Rosenberg, Stephen Gammell (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Monster Mama as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Despite the fact that his beloved Mama is a monster, Patrick Edward adores her, until, one day, when Patrick Edward is attacked by three bullies, he discovers that he might be more like his mother than he had thought.


Book cover of Alice the Fairy

Lisa Rojany Why did I love this book?

Written and illustrated by David Shannon, this delightful story is about a “temporary fairy” who aims to be a “permanent fairy,” but can’t quite seem to get there. Using a wand and ordinary items from her world, she effects “magic” on everything she touches, to measurable success—except when she turns a white dress into a red one and The Duchess locks her into a tower. (She escapes.) A fun story for fairy lovers!

By David Shannon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Alice the Fairy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

Caldecott Honor artist and bestselling author David Shannon's warm and funny new picture book introduces Alice, a mischievous little girl with a "No, David" nose for trouble and a magic wand.

Alice has a nose for trouble, but luckily she's a fairy--a Temporary Fairy. She has a magic wand, fairy wings, and a blanket, all of which she uses to disappear, to fly, to transform her dad into a horse, and to turn his cookies into her own! There are still a few things Alice needs to learn to become a Permanent Fairy, like how to float her dog on…


Book cover of Babies

Lisa Rojany Why did I love this book?

This old standby is one of the most memorable picture board books; I still recall reading it when I was four. Illustrating babies in all spaces and of all colors, Fujikawa makes the reader yearn to play with them. Fujikawa (1908–1998), designed many books for the Walt Disney Company, including promotional work on the movie Fantasia. But her work in Babies is not so cartoony as much as illustrated pen and ink. A keeper.

By Gyo Fujikawa,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Babies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A charming first look at the soft and sweet world of babies.


Book cover of The Rainbabies

Lisa Rojany Why did I love this book?

On the night of a moonshower, a childless couple is bequeathed 12 tiny rainbabies, each no bigger than a big toe. They lavish care on them, but “dangers born of water, fire, and earth” threaten the safety of the babies. The couple is offered a fortune to give them to a rich lady who is childless, but they refuse. Then one day Mother Moonshower comes to take the rainbabies back. In their stead she leaves the couple a human-sized baby to raise and “their happiness was complete.” A heartwarming story.

By Laura Krauss Melmed, Jim LaMarche (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Rainbabies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

On a moonlit night. . .

In the magic of a moonshower, a childless couple finds a dozen tiny babies in a meadow. Written in classic folktale tradition, illustrated with astonishing paintings, The Rainbabies is woven from magic and moonbeams.


Book cover of The Napping House

Lisa Rojany Why did I love this book?

“There is a house, a napping house, where everyone is sleeping.” Atop the snoring grandma comes a dreaming child, who is then covered by a dozing dog, when a cat comes to snooze atop it—and then comes the wakeful flea atop the cat. Soon the pile is disrupted, the bed is broken, and no one is napping in the napping house anymore. A simple, lyrical story reminiscent of The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

By Audrey Wood, Don Wood (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Napping House as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A board book edition of the classic cumulative tale that's perfect for bedtime, naptime...anytime!

In the napping house is a cozy bed piled high with a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, and a slumbering mouse. All is at peace until the appearance of an unexpected visitor and before you know it, no one is sleeping! The rounded corners, and sturdy board book pages make this book a great gift for little ones.


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Book cover of This Animal Body

Meredith Walters

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Neuroscience PhD student Frankie Conner has finally gotten her life together—she’s determined to discover the cause of her depression and find a cure for herself and everyone like her. But the first day of her program, she meets a group of talking animals who have an urgent message they refuse to share. And while the animals may not have Frankie’s exalted human brain, they know things she doesn’t, like what happened before she was adopted.

To prove she’s sane, Frankie investigates her forgotten past and conducts clandestine experiments. But just when she uncovers the truth, she has to make an impossible choice: betray the animals she’s fallen in love with—or give up her last chance at success and everything she thought she knew.

By Meredith Walters,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked This Animal Body as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Frankie Conner, first-year graduate student at UC Berkeley, is finally getting her life together. After multiple failures and several false starts, she's found her calling: become a neuroscientist, discover the cause of her depression and anxiety, and hopefully find a cure for herself and everyone like her.

But her first day of the program, Frankie meets a mysterious group of talking animals who claim to have an urgent message for her. The problem is, they're not willing to share it. Not yet. Not until she's ready.

While Frankie's new friends may not have her highly evolved, state-of-the-art, exalted human brain,…


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