May 2019— Special Issue: Puerto Rico

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Beautifully designed PDF edition in full color. Bilingual Spanish & English issue. 128 pages.



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Beautiful original cover art by Rosa Colón Guerra. © Copyright 2019 Rosa Colón Guerra.


Foreword / Prefacio

• Y este cuento (no) ha terminado: Rebuilding, Rewriting and Resisting in Puerto Rico by Sujei Lugo Vázquez , *Guest Editor


Nonfiction / No ficción

• Re-Writing Hurricane María: Owning our Stories and Creating New Narratives by Adriana De Persia Colón

• En escribir Mi ISLA bella, mi ISLA hermosa / On Writing Mi ISLA bella, mi ISLA hermosa by Isset M. Pastrana Andino

• Leamos Más, Puerto Rico / Read More, Puerto Rico by Mel Solórzano García

• The Use of Children’s Literature in Puerto Rican Learning Institutions— a conversation between Dr. Melissa Lee García Vega and Yazmín Méndez Bonet

• El Centro de Recursos de Aprendizaje en la Universidad de Puerto Rico promueve la alfabetización infantil culturalmente relevante / The Learning Resource Center at the University of Puerto Rico Promotes Culturally Relevant Childhood Literacy by Mercy Delgado Cordero, Ed.D.

• El desarrollo de la narración de cuentos Kamishibai en Puerto Rico / The Development of Kamishibai Storytelling in Puerto Rico by Tere Marichal Lugo

• The Puerto Rico Necesita Bibliotecas (Puerto Rico Needs Libraries) Advocacy Project by Rossana I. Barrios Llorens

• Una isla en medio de las olas: Poblando los anales de literatura infantil puertorriqueña en Wikipedia / An Island Between the Waves: Populating the Puerto Rican Children’s Literature Annals in Wikipedia by Isamar Abreu

• Exhibit to Use Books to Help Children Make Sense of Hurricane María, Climate Change by Ricia Anne Chansky, Ph.D., Yarelis Marcial Acevedo, Adriana Montes Pacheco, Francheska Morales García and Sharon M. Nieves Ferrer


Illustration / Ilustración

• Clemente, Corazón de Pueblo: Illustrating the Politics around Roberto Clemente by Rosa Colón Guerra

• Spotlight on the picture book Un coquí de Boriquén con los reyes a Belén by Nívea Ortiz

• Spotlight on the illustrations of Mya Pagán in Por ahí viene el huracán: Una aventura de Isa y Mau


Hurricane María: Vignettes / Huracán María: viñetas

• The Day Our Home Grew by Zaira R. Arvelo Alicea

• Monsters and Heroes by Edgardo Granel-Ruiz

• Together as One by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand

• Excerpt from Chronicles of a Hurricane-Apocalypse by Paulinette J. Quirindongo Ramos


Poetry / Poesía

• ¿Quién soy? / Who am I? by Pamy Rojas

• Homegoing // Homecoming by Yajaira de la Espada


House Notes / Actualizaciones

• Literary Laurels: A Round-up of Recent Accomplishments by Anansesem Contributors

• Write for Us: Become a Regular Contributor

*Guest-edited issues are line edited and proofread by Anansesem staff.

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May 2018— Special Issue: Book Reviews

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Foreword

• Introducing the Anansesem Starred Review (And Giving Caribbean Books for Young People The Reviews They Deserve) by Summer Edward, Editor-in-Chief


Nonfiction

• Especially for Caribbean Children's Authors: Why Your Book Isn't Getting Reviewed and How To Get More Reviews by Summer Edward, Editor-in-Chief


Book Reviews

• Starring Carmen! by Anika Denise and illustrated by Lorena Alvarez, reviewed by Hannah Carmona Dias

• Malaika's Winter Carnival by Nadia L. Hohn and illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, reviewed by John Robert Lee

• Rafi and Rosi Pirates! by Lulu Delacre and illustrated by Lulu Delacre, reviewed by Josh Hem Lee

• Tata and the Big Bad Bull by Juleus Ghunta and illustrated by Ann-Cathrine Loo, reviewed by Shanimarie Ogilive

• Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, reviewed by Janique Dennis


Starred Reviews

The following books will receive starred reviews in this issue:

• Martí's Song for Freedom / Martí y sus versos por la libertad, by Emma Otheguy and illustrated by Beatriz Vidal, reviewed by Margarita Engle

• The Field by Baptiste Paul and illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara, reviewed by Christina King

• All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Mike Curato, reviewed by Adonis Diaz Fernandez

• Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender, reviewed by Nadia L. Hohn


Illustration

• Spotlight on Turning Pages: My Life Story by Featured Illustrator, Lulu Delacre

• Spotlight on Los Colores de mi Isla / The Colors of my Island by Featured Illustrator, Rosa Colón Guerra


House Notes

• Literary Laurels: A Round-up of Recent Accomplishments by Anansesem Alum

• Write for Us: May 2019 Issue Call for Submissions

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September 2017— Special Issue: Love

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Beautiful original cover art by Children's Book Choice Award winner Alix Delinois, from Eight Days a Story of Haiti.


Foreword

• Hopefully Ever After: What Love Means to Young Readers by Margarita Engle, the 2017-2019 USA Young People's Poet Laureate

• Caribbean Children's Literature: Where's the Love?: A Note from the Editor-in-Chief by Summer Edward


Fiction

• Excerpt from in-progress YA novel, Man Up, by Trish Cooke, Kate Greenaway Medal Commended author of So Much

• Excerpt from Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, Américas Award Commended author of The Jumbies


Poetry

• Our Cook and Natural Dancing Partners: Two Poems from the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) shortlisted book Dancing in the Rain by John Lyons


Nonfiction

• Publishing as A Labour of Love: An Interview with Verna Wilkins, the UK's Doyenne of Multicultural Children's Publishing by Summer Edward

• Picturebook Love: 5 Caribbean Children's Authors on Helping Kids Choose Love Through Stories by Anika Denise, Joanne C. Hillhouse, Lulu Delacre, Olive Senior and Matt Tavares

• Angela Walcott reviews Greetings, Leroy by Itah Sadu and Alix Delinois

• Dr. Carmen Milagros-Torres reviews The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon


Illustration

• Spotlight on The Carnival Prince by Featured Illustrator, Daniel O'Brien

• Spotlight on Greetings, Leroy and Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Featured Illustrator, Alix Delinois


Guests from Around the World

• Tinine and Tanana (fiction) by Hadiza Mohammed


House Notes

• Literary Laurels: A Round-up of Recent Accomplishments by Anansesem Alum

• Write for Us: Call for Submissions

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December 2016— Relaunch Issue

Snocone by © Jackie Hinkson. From Lost at Carnival

As I sit down to write this, Christmas is just a few days away. A lot of us are tackling our Christmas shopping lists, trying to pin down the perfect present for a loved one or someone who touched our lives this year.

I find myself thinking about gifts as well. But the gifts I'm thinking about are the gifts of being heard, the gifts of being seen. The gifts of sharing one's voice, one's stories— these are the gifts that move the world forward and that's why publishing platforms like ours are so important. Publication is a gift and it's one the writers and illustrators whose work appear in this issue have earned, rather than been given.

They share their gifts with us and as we share them back with you, we hope something comes to life in you the reader. Their words, their art, their stories can, and will, plant something in your imagination, in your consciousness, that will bear fruit later. This is the ancient cycle of sowing and reaping that fuels humanity. If we don't keep this cycle alive in our communities, in our writing communities in particular, we will lose the gifts our children need to live and live well.

Just a few of the gifts offered up in this issue: Budding Trinbagonian illustrators Jade Achoy and Jeunanne Alkins counter-intuitively use digital art to tell environmental tales and the results are mythical.

Imam Baksh (Guyana), CODE Burt Award winning author of Children of the Spider, proves why he's a YA author to watch with his space adventure science-fiction story, "Clara in the New World."

We honour meritorious self-published children's authors in the second installment of our Self-Publishing Journeys essay series; this time, it's picturebook authors Gregory Skeete (Barbados), Marjuan Canady (Trinidad and Tobago) and Gail Morong (Trinidad and Tobago) sharing their stories of creative self-agency.

Get a feel for the latest works of John Lyons and Lynn Joseph, two established Trinbagonian authors who happened to publish books for young people with the same title this year; veteran Jamaican educator and children's author Helen Williams reviews one and we share an exclusive excerpt from the other.

We are excited to share Caribbean-Canadian picturebook authors Nadia L. Hohn (Jamaica) and Itah Sadu (Barbados) in conversation. They discuss their journeys as diaspora children's authors against the backdrop of bookselling, teaching and Toronto's literary culture.

It is with the giftedness of our communities in mind that we keep this online platform alive for yet another year. We are especially encouraged by those who welcomed us back with zest after our two-year hiatus. We hope you will be a sower and share forward the writing and art in this issue with someone who needs reminding that our fields are indeed fertile.

All the best for a 2017 grounded in clarity, patience and hope.

On behalf of the Anansesem team,

Summer Edward
Editor-in-Chief

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Fiction

• Clara in the New World, 2492 A.D. by Imam Baksh, Burt Award winning author of Children of the Spider

• Excerpt from Dancing in the Rain by Lynn Joseph, Américas Award winning author of The Color of My Words

• Pitch Match Madness by Fidelia Fisher


Poetry

• Excerpt from Morning Star Horse/El caballo Lucero by Margarita Engle, Newberry Honor winning author of The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom

• Bougainvillea Girl by Fidelia Fisher

• Playground Tra-la-la by Fidelia Fisher


Special Segment: Self-Publishing Journeys

• A Bucket List Item Crossed Off: Write a Children’s Storybook by Gail Morong, author of Lost at Carnival

• A Pelican, A Publisher, Potential and Possibilities by Gregory Skeete, author of the Pilly the Pelican Children's Book Series

• Creating Callaloo from Scratch: Finding my Power through Self-Publishing by Marjuan Canady, author of the Callaloo Series


Nonfiction

• Author to Author: A Conversation between Caribbean-Canadian picturebook authors Nadia L. Hohn (Malaika's Costume) and Itah Sadu (Greetings, Leroy!)

• 28 Surefire Ways to Keep your Children’s or YA Book on the Radar by Marsha Gomes-Mckie, Regional Adviser of the Caribbean South chapter of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

• Dr. Aisha Spencer's review of  Dancing in the Rain by John Lyons

• Dr. Carmen Milagros-Torres's review of  Gone to Drift by Diana McCaulay

• Helen Williams's review of  Malaika's Costume by Nadia L. Hohn

• Jamaica's Children's Writers Circle (1983-2006): A Retrospective by Diane Browne and Lorrise DaCosta


Illustration

• Iguana by Merry Phillips

• Illustrations from The Black Lake by Featured Illustrator, Jade Achoy

• Illustrations from Ready. SET...HATCH! by Featured Illustrator, Jeunanne Alkins


Guests from Around the World

• Night Owl and Limerick by Victoria Krylova (poetry, 16 years old)

• Sock Bugs by Nicole Steadman (poetry)

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December 2013 Issue

Christmas Eve by Sayada Ramdial

The start of a new year is a time of promise and hope. At Anansesem, we are ever filled with the hope that we can continue to create a friendly, healthy space for Caribbean children's literature.

In this online "space", contributors to the ezine and readers both, are shaping stories that bridge the distance between the old and the new, adult and child readers, and the different figurative and literal spaces where children's stories are read and enjoyed: our homes, libraries, schools, and our hearts. We thank you for making our online space a community, and we look forward to even more community-building and creativity this year.

Our current issue, the December 2013 issue, reveals an awareness of the importance of creativity in writing for children, and in our cultures. In twelve-year-old Tyrin Culmer's story "Paint" artistic creativity plays a role in the reconciliation between a mother and daughter; in "What A Lime of a Night!" by Bajan writer Gale Weithers, a young boy learns a lesson only when his mother resorts to creative measures; and in the story "Ndiyamasi" by well-known children's author Tololwa Mollel, a young boy taps into the creative power of storytelling to deal with spooky happenings at night. Meanwhile, in the poems "Tess" by Patricia Whittle and "Jammin' in Jamrock" by Latoya Wakefield, it is the creativity of language, of words and images, that is at play.

The theme of creativity also runs through our nonfiction section. Interviews with Margarita Engle and Carol Ottley-Mitchell, author of the Caribbean Adventure Series, reveal a lot about the creativity involved in writing historical fiction, while book club volunteer Joanne C. Hillhouse's essay, "Adventures in Reading with Children", underscores the need for creative approaches when reading or doing reading instruction with children.

We are also happy to publish our virtual roundtable: "Broader, Better Conversations for Caribbean Children's Literature: Experts Speak Out", the first of what we hope will be many more of these group discussions, and a rare interview with Vashanti Rahaman, author of such picturebooks as Divali Rose and A Little Salmon for Witness. Lastly, our Featured Illustrators, Sayada Ramdial and Laura James, demonstrate in their artwork, the dynamic creativity of Caribbean children's illustration.

For 2014, our wish is that we will all enjoy a year of creative exploration, creative sharing, and creative daring. We look forward to broader, better conversations, and more joy in the exciting realm of children's literature as we continue to build our creative community together.

On behalf on the Anansesem team,

Summer Edward
Managing Editor

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Contributions by Kids/Teens

• Paint (fiction) by Tyrin Culmer

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• What A Lime of a Night! by Gale Weithers


Poetry

•  Jammin’ in Jamrock by Latoya Wakefield

• Tess by Patricia Whittle


Nonfiction

• Adventures in Reading with Children by Joanne C. Hillhouse

• Awakening an Interest in History: Summer Ewdard interviews Caribbean Adventure Series Author, Carol Ottley-Mitchell

• Shining a Light on the Human Condition in Books for Children: Summer Edward interviews Vashanti Rahaman

• Silver People and The Adventure of History: Summer Edward interviews Margarita Engle

• Broader, Better Conversations for Caribbean Children's Literature: Experts Speak Out - Virtual Roundtable with Joanne Gail Johnson, Mario Picayo, Sujin Huggins, and Summer Edward


Illustration

• Illustrations from Anna Carries Water by Featured Illustrator, Laura James

• Christmas Illustrations by Featured Illustrator, Sayada Ramdial

• An Intelligent Iguana by Featured Illustrator, Sayada Ramdial


Guests from Around the World

• Ndiyamasi (fiction) by Tololwa Mollel

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May 2013 Issue

Gooseberry by Cherise Ward

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Auntie Cheryl's Birds by Sarah Venable

• Pipe Dream by Carol Sammy

• Rolling Calf by Lisa Dunn

• The Bird Who Saved His Food by Tammi Browne-Bannister

• The Caterpillar That was Afraid of the Cocoon by Latoya Wakefield

Poetry

• The Hippocatamus by Sarah Venable

• My Wish Quilt by Summer Edward


Nonfiction

• Bridges that Lead to the Past: Testimonial Tales in Children’s Literature by Keila Alemán

• Identity Markers in Educational Material for Language Arts by Alma Rivera-Collazo


Illustration

• Auntie Cheryl by Nakazzi Hutchinson

• Birds behind bars by Cheryl Hutchinson

• Chased by Gary Dunn

• Illustrations from Fruits and Fantasy by Featured Illustrator, Cherise Ward

• Illustrations from Look Back! by Featured Illustrator, Caroline Binch

• Irie and Grandma by Kavion Robinson

• Irie the Caterpillar by Kavion Robinson

• Quilt by Summer Edward

• Wild bird visiting in tree by Cheryl Hutchinson


Guests from Around the World

• A London Building by Leika Boundy (illustration, 8 years old)

• Beauty of the Caribbean by Maisa Abed (illustration, 11 years old)

• Mama's Laughter by Elayne Ogbeta (poetry)

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December 2012 Issue

Eyeing the Ham by Sayada Ramdial

The December 2012 issue of Anansesem signals yet another milestone in our journey into the creative potentialities of Caribbean children's writing and illustration. We are always proud of what our contributors bring to the table and this issue is no different.

As usual, we publish a selection from the notebooks and drawing pads of Caribbean children and teens. Thirteen-year-old Jaixia Ellis' introspective poem, 'Thinking', and nine-year-old Effie Quansah-George's expressive 'Self-portrait', impressed us with their clarity and honesty. Effie also reinterprets Anansi in her spirited, tongue-in-cheek poem, 'An Anansi Warning'.

Our adult contributors touch on a range of themes. On the fiction front, Jamaican writer Lisa Shaw effectively explores the generation gap in her story, 'Power’s Back, Grandpa', illustrated by Janiene Facey. In the story 'Connor Conrad and the Forest Children' Trinidadian writer Krys-Darcelle Dumas pays tribute to her island's folklore in an accessible, contemporary story about a group of children who encounter forest douens.

In the non-fiction realm, our Managing Editor interviews Marsha Gomes-Mckie, the new Regional Advisor of the Caribbean South Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and Loekie Morales, a Sint Maartener children's writer embracing the possibilities of self-publishing. We publish a review of Mark Greenwood's new picturebook 'Drummer Boy of John John' which tells of the creation of the steelpan. We also welcome back Carmen Milagros-Torres, whose well-researched essay on the traditional vejigante character in Puerto Rican Carnival both delights and informs. 'The Vejgantes are Coming' is lovingly illustrated by Erick Ortiz Gelpi.

In the slideshow on our homepage we are pleased to display the work of this issue's Featured Illustrators. Jamaican-American illustrator Danielle C. McManus-Sladek's mixed-media illustrations from her self-published picturebook My Grandma’s Journey, warm the cockles of the heart and capture the spirit of childhood memory. Mike Blanc's illustrations from I Came From the Water: One Haitian Boy's Incredible Tale of Survival have the narrative quality of animated movie stills; they remind us of what can be achieved when traditional drawing meets digital illustration.

As we have previously done, we also welcome Guests from Around the World in this issue. In the poem 'Trouble', Goldie Alexander confronts the social stigma and stereotype of ungovernable youth. Australian poet David Bassalone regales us in his distinct voice with the poem 'The Lighthouse' in which the architectural feature of the lighthouse, so familiar an aspect of Caribbean landscapes, takes on symbolic significance. At just 14 years old, Benjamin Jasinski-Eshun memorializes the 2012 Olympics and displays understated wisdom in his reflective poem 'No One Can Outrun Bolt', while Conrad Burdekin celebrates family ties in his effervescent poems 'Hugs' and 'Gorgeous Granny'. We also happily publish British-Iraqi and British-Kenyan child artists Sara Abed and Ida Mwangi, and the upbeat illustrations of English illustrator, Lilian Fitchett.

Lastly, Sayada Ramdial provides us with cheer-inducing, Christmas-themed cover art. A versatile illustrator and graphic artist from Trinidad and Tobago, Ramdial enjoys creating expressive and sometimes humour-driven images. She recently launched her own design company, Designed For A Smile, the first project of which was a line of greeting cards celebrating the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago Christmas. In 2012, Sayada graduated with honours from SCAD: The University for Creative Careers, where she earned her B.F.A in Illustration, with a minor in Drawing.

On behalf of the Anansesem team,

Summer Edward
Managing Editor

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Contributions by Kids/Teens

• An Anansi Warning (poetry) by Effie Quansah-George (9 years old)

• Effie, Self-Portrait (illustration) by Effie Quansah-George (9 years old)

• Thinking (poetry) by Jaixia Ellis (13 years old)

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Power’s Back, Grandpa by Lisa Shaw

• Connor Conrad and the Forest Children by Krys-Darcelle Dumas


Nonfiction

• Gomes-Mckie Takes the Helm: Summer Edward interviews Marsha Gomes-Mckie, new Regional Advisor of the SCBWI Caribbean South Chapter

• Summer Edward's review of Drummer Boy of John John by Mark Greenwood

• Sint Maartener Children's Writer Embraces Self-Publishing: Summer Edward interviews Loekie Morales

• The Vejigantes Are Coming by Carmen Milagros-Torres


Illustration

• Micky and Ricky by Janiene Facey

• Grandpa Tells Stories by Janiene Facey

• A Vejigante by Erick Ortiz Gelpi

• Illustrations from My Grandma’s Journey by Featured Illustrator, Danielle C. McManus-Sladek

• Illustrations from I Came From the Water by Featured Illustrator, Mike Blanc


Guests from Around the World

• Anansi Spider by Ida Mwangi (illustration, ten years old)

• Caribbean Sunset by Sara Abed (illustration, 10 years old)

• Doggie Hug by Lilian Fitchett (illustration)

• Gorgeous Granny by Conrad Burdekin (poetry)

• Granny by Lilian Fitchett (illustration)

• Hugs by Conrad Burdekin (poetry)

• No One Can Outrun Bolt by Benjamin Jasinski-Eshun (poetry, 14 years old)

• The Lighthouse by Damian Balassone (poetry)

• Trouble by Goldie Alexander (poetry)

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May 2012 Issue

Poppitz, the Flying Frog by Leizelle Guinness

Contributions by Kids/Teens

• Mr. Coconut (illustration) by Joshua Wong (16 years old)

• The Adventures of Mr. Coconut (fiction) by Akeile Benjamin (10 years old)

• The Legend of the Sea Lords (fiction) by Vega Armstrong (10 years old)

• The Plunge Pool (illustration detail) by Jolie Wong (15 years old)

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Adannaya's Sugar by Carmen Milagros Torres

• Jumbie Child by Kheryn Casey

• The Go-Cart by Josh Hem Lee


Nonfiction

• A Heart for the Caribbean:  Floella Benjamin Talks to Summer Edward (Interview Part 1)

• Big Kids Wear Clothes: Summer Edward interviews Olive Senior, author of Birthday Suit

• Changing the Perception of the Caribbean Through Children's Literature: Floella Benjamin Talks to Summer Edward (Interview Part 2)

• "Many Grains Make a Beach":  Summer Edward interviews Mario Picayo, Caribbean Children's Publishing Pioneer


Illustration

• Illustrations from Drummer Boy of John John by Featured Artist, Frané Lessac

• Illustrations from Poppitz: The Frog Who Flew by Featured Artist, Leizelle Guinness

• Adannaya and the Spider by Carmen Milagros Torres

Read More

December 2011 Issue

Bringing in the Sheep by Jo-Anne Mason

By Kids

• The Back Chat Blues (essay) by Kenya Jacobs (13 years old)

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Mangoes, Mangoes by Indira Sammy
• The Coquí Song by Carmen Milagros Torres
• The Gourd Artist by Ella Kennen
• Santa in My Village by Grethel Joseph


Poetry

• Colours by Indira Sammy

Nonfiction

• Jamaican Illustration Student Takes Innovative Approach to Publishing - Summer Edward interviews Peta-Ann Smith, author/illustrator of prospective children's book, Charlene's Quest


Illustration

• Illustrations from The Perfect Shell and Trixy The Monkey That Ate Nevis by Featured Artist, Jo-Anne Mason
• Illustrations from The Red Boat by Featured Artist, Jamie Jonathan Ball
• Night Sky Dream by Ella Kennen
• The Coquí Song by Erick Ortiz Gelpi


Guests from Around the World!

• Dancing with the Moon (poetry) by Tom Deiker

Read More

May 2011 Issue

Wanderer in Blue by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné

By Kids/Teens

• Daddy Who (poetry) by Solace Mills (15 years old)
• What It Means To Be Black (poetry) by Shaunti Farrell (11 years old)

• The Mad Hatter (illustration detail) by Paul McConnie (5 years old)
• The Garden in the Keyhole (illustration) by Samantha Dupigny (6 years old)


Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Bass by Grethel Joseph
• The Rose Apple Tree by Patricia Whittle
• Play On Deon by Jan Bester
• The Resourceful One by Mirlande Jean-Gilles‏
• Sun, Moon, Darkness, Rain and Heart: An African-Caribbean Folktale by Gerald Hausman


Nonfiction

• Bedtime Meditation for Children by Grethel Joseph  
• "The Caribbean needs more young readers"— Summer Edward interviews Nicholas Gillard of Macmillan Caribbean Publishers
• Writing Up a Storm by Sarah Venable - One Barbadian teacher's efforts to get primary school students writing


Illustration

• Dreamer by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné
• Dreams and Experience (set) by Dirk Joseph
• Deon by Jan Bester
• Grace and Violet by Dirk Joseph
• Wings Made of Words by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné


Guests from Around the World!

• Dining Together by Aditi Laddha (14 years old, illustration)
• Current Situation of Children's Illustration in Costa Rica by Wen Hsu (nonfiction)

Read More

November 2011— Special Issue: Best of Wadadli Pen

We are delighted to bring you the first ever special issue of Anansesem, the Best of Wadadli Pen issue! The issue will feature some of the best entries from the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize writing competition (Antigua & Barbuda) over the years (see announcement for more details.)

Congratulations to all of the featured Wadadli Pen writers!

• Sands and Butterflies by Devra Thomas
• The Lost Coin by Orique Gordon
• Cocos Nucifera by SA Dixon
• The Curse of Kumina by Shakeema Edwards
• Market Day by Latisha Walker Jacobs
• The Legend of Banana Boy by Chatrisse Beazer
• Mongoose in a Hole by Keillia Mentor
• The Scary Night by Zuri Holder
• Fictional Reality by Rilys Adams
• Ma Belle by Kemal Osmel Nicholson
• The Creation by Rosalie Amelia Richards
• The Day I Became a Man by Blair A. Rose
• Blue Mountain Hike by Debesha Grant
• Awaken to the Night by Kennella Charles
• Road Trip to Paradise by Angelica O’Donoghue
• Tekin' ahn Dey! by Lia Nicholson
• Nuclear Family Explosion by Siena K. Margrie Hunt
• Boysie's Fixed Account by Verdanci Benta
• The Day I Saw Evil by Liscia Lawrence
• Stray Dog Prepares for the Storm by Gemma George
• Lucky Dollar by Sarah Ann Li
• Preschool Days by Ardis Lavelle

Read More

September 2011 Issue

Mermaid by Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné

Pickney Pictures

• Pictures Last Longer by Destiny Maynard (13 years old)


Pickney Prose

• The Magic Rock by Abadai Zoboi (8 years old)


Fiction

• Anansi and the Golden Peacock by Dawne G. Zetterstrom
• Camot the Camera by Grethel Joseph
• Mango Belly (Part 1) by Tammi Browne-Bannister
• Mango Belly (Part 2) by Tammi Browne-Bannister
• The Little Golden Stone Man by Ibi Zoboi


Nonfiction

• An excerpt from Island Princess in Brooklyn by Diane Browne
• An excerpt from Marcus and the Amazons by Geoffrey Philp
• "Culture Again!" – Interview with YA author Ramin Ganeshram, Part 1 by Summer Edward
• Review of A Coconuts Life for Me by Summer Edward
• Stir It Up! is a "Novel with Recipes" – Interview with YA author Ramin Ganeshram, Part 2 by Summer Edward


Poetry

• The Earth’s Water by Summer Edward


Illustration

• Garden Fairy, Wings Made of Words and Dreamer by Featured Illustrator, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné
• Mango Fairy by Featured Illustrator, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné
• Reo's Shark Adventure, The Bacco and Reading is Magic by Featured Illustrator, Stacey Byer
• The Old Woman Speaks by Featured Illustrator, Michelle Alexander-Chin
• Waves by Featured Illustrator, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné


Guests from Around the World

• Dinner Song by Peter Taylor (Poetry)
• Feet by Harris Tobias (Poetry)
• Hyphen the Python by Peter Taylor (Poetry)
• It's So Hard to Be a (Paren) by Peter Taylor (Poetry)
• Ngoma: A Zimbabwean Origin Story by Gerald Hausman and Seth Cohen (Fiction)

Read More

December 2010 issue

I Thought by Brianna McCarthy

By Kids/Teens

• Together We Can Do Anything (fiction) by Julian Hinkson (10 years old)
• The Ghost in the Barnyard (fiction) by Andrew Mitchell (10 years old)
• Rudolph the Reindeer (illustration) by Shannon Bryan (6 years old)


Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Dancing Bomba by Carmen Milagros Torres-Rivera
• Miss Curly Red Top by Jan Bester
• Yohan! by Floree Williams



Poetry

• Scenes from a Caribbean Childhood by Joanne C. Hillhouse
• Sugarcane Dance by Summer Edward


Nonfiction

• Review of Carol Ottley-Mitchell's Caribbean Adventure Series by Summer Edward


Illustration

• Dancing Bomba by Erick Ortiz Gelpi
• How the Crab Got A Crack on Its Back (set) by Michelle Alexander-Chin
• I Knew, I Know, I Thought (set) by Brianna McCarthy
• Miss Curly Red Top by Jan Bester


Guests From Around the World

• Beaumont and the Moonflower (fiction) by Michael Bazzett

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September 2010— Inaugural Issue

Diego Dish and Carlotta Spoon by Annalee Davis

By Kids/Teens

• Bajan Market (poetry) by Che Blackman
(16 years old)
• Don't Get to Me (poetry) by Che Blackman
• Poverty (poetry) by Che Blackman

Contributions by the Young at Heart

Fiction

• Anansi and the Cou Cou Stick by Sandra Sealy
• Joshua and the Egg Shells by Nerissa Golden
• Mama and Me on Montserrat by Jan Bester
• Mama and Me on Montserrat: The Volcano by Jan Bester
• Wings by Irma Rambaran



Poetry

• Anansi Rises by Maggie Harris
• Cool Rainforest Rain by Maggie Harris
• Flying Fish by Carol-Ann Hoyte
• Skipping Poem by Maggie Harris
• Who Frighten? by Maggie Harris


Nonfiction

• Literary Critics in Aruba Rave Talent, Mourn Guidance by Anouska Kock
• Papiamento Children’s Books Pose a Challenge in the Dutch Caribbean by Anouska Kock
• Review of 'A Caribbean Journey from A to Y (Read and Discover What Happened to the Z)' by Summer Edward


Illustration

• Illustrations from Diego Dish and Carlotta Spoon by Featured Illustrator, Annalee Davis
• Editorial illustrations for Mama and Me in Montserrat by Jan Bester
• Editorial illustrations for Mama and Me in Montserrat: The Volcano by Jan Bester


Guests From Around the World

• Making Dew by Jim Wasserman (fiction)

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