Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent anywhere she goes. As a children’s book author, Janelle is passionate about representation. She hopes to create stories that make children fall more in love with themselves. She’s drawn to stories that are lyrical, multi-generational or showcase non-traditional storytelling structures.
Since she was a child, Janelle possessed a deep love for reading and writing. Her head was often buried in a book. On holidays, she would show off her writing skills by creating personalized greeting cards for family members using construction paper and lots of glitter!
Janelle comes from a long line of educators. She is a veteran New York City public school teacher who is dedicated to providing equitable education and opportunities for Black and brown children. Janelle can often be found blasting music in dance rehearsal, yelling 5-6-7-8, preparing for elaborate productions.
Photo Credit: Matthew J. Ellis
Photo Credit: Matthew J. Ellis
Photo Credit: Matthew J. Ellis
Fun Random Facts about Janelle Harper
I started dancing at 4 years old. That’s over 30 years of dancing!
Unicorns are my favorite animal.
I don’t know how to ride a bike.
Glitter makes my soul happy.
I’ve traveled to five continents. Australia and Antarctica are on my bucket list.
I love scary movies.
Game Night is a huge hit at my house. Taboo is my favorite party game.
I attended an all women’s college.
Verse novels are my favorite genre of books.
I can only eat eggs with cheese and ketchup.
My ears aren’t pierced. If you see me wearing earrings, they’re clip ons.
I pronounce “ask” as “axe”. I blame my New York accent.
Thirteen is my lucky number. Can you tell?!