Anna Knowles
Author
Lilly Shumway
Illustrator
New Release
Anna's Beautiful Blend (2021)
It has always been Anna and her older brother and little sister. Now her dad is remarried and there are more people added to the mix. How will two families and their differences ever come together as one? The parents have a solution and it involves teamwork.
Anna's Beautiful Blend
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“Anna does a brilliant job of giving light to the psychological complexities of blending a family from the uncomplicated perspective of a child. Lily’s illustrations bring a childlike and whimsical quality to the story that enhance it’s relatability to the young reader.”
-Rebecca M. Knudsen, MS, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Praise & Reviews
The best picture books (in my opinion) have a lesson nestled inside a good story with illustrations that set a feel-good tone - this book strikes the perfect chord on all counts! Meeting new family members can be scary and uncomfortable - especially when you're a kid and you're going to LIVE with these new people! But this story diffuses the fear by pulling you along the incremental journey of getting to know new family in the most powerful way possible - shared experiences. The colorful pictures are creative and whimsical, but they also cleverly capture the many postures of childhood. Bravo!
Paula Tiberius, Editor
Wonderfully, sweet book. Is great for all ages. All my kids loved it and it has something to teach all of us, no matter the generation.
Amazon Review
Anna’s Beautiful Blend has an inspiring message for all children to hear. It captures the special journey of a blended family. The illustrations are beautifully unique and alive with feeling. I highly recommend this book for young readers!
Holly Kline, Youth Fiction author of Chrysalis Road
Wonderfully, sweet book. Is great for all ages. All my kids loved it and it has something to teach all of us, no matter the generation.
Amazon Review
"A beautiful storyline and gorgeous illustrations combine to teach a valuable lesson about blending two very different families into one. The perfect gift for children and parents facing big changes in their lives." M.J. Evans, Award-winning author
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About Anna Knowles
Anna Knowles has a degree in Elementary Education. She loved reading her favorite picture books to her students. She grew up mostly in the Chicago area but now lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. She loves to travel with her husband and work on family history with her dad. One of her greatest adventures was visiting Lettomanoppello, Italy, where she learned about her ancestors and slept under the same stars. Anna’s Beautiful Blend is her debut illustrated children’s book.
About Lilly Shumway
Twenty-year-old, Lilly Shumway is a freelance artist, born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and raised in Parker, Colorado. Though new and inexperienced, she is passionate and earnest about her work. Lilly believes the world is a beautiful and wondrous place and strives to revere it in each of her pieces. She specializes in digital and traditional art.