Mom, Author, Marketer
ABOUT
Meet Alliah
Buffalo, NY native Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from iconic brands to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page.
Alliah is the author of Junior Library Guild Selection BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince (starred reviews, Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly), Black KidLit Award-winning The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, and The Juneteenth Cookbook. Her upcoming releases include Great Idea Malia, Blexi, Play! Scarecited on the First Day of School, No Cat Like Tac, Art's Art, and more.
A proud member of KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI, she and her work have been featured on Essence.com, TODAY with Hoda + Jenna, Morning in America, Good Housekeeping, CNN, NPR, and more.
Alliah resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard.
FAQ
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME?
Thanks for asking!
Alliah: Uh-Lee-Uh
Agostini: A-Goh-Stin-E
Easy, right? My first day of school was always the WORST. With an 'A' first and last name, I was almost always the first person called for roll call and I dreaded when teachers tried to pronounce my name. It was typically disastrous.
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
I loved picture books by Tomie dePaola and Dick Bruna, ANY joke book, The Babysitters Club series, and in middle school, any book by Mildred Taylor.
I also loved Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, both for the story and the extraordinary art that accompanied it (She's a great artist, and the book came from one of her quilted works!). My children now read and enjoy the copy I had when I was little.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WRITING BOOKS?
I love creating something that doesn't exist that children and families will ultimately be able to enjoy, and hopefully learn from, too.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Hint. I have two. They're alllll over this site ;-).
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
I have so many. I like to eat. :) Here are a few, categorized by my favorite 'regional' cuisines :).
Buffalo Food: Barbecue chicken wings from LaNova's Pizzeria, my mom's fried catfish, sheet cake from Wegmans (sooooo gooooood.)
Guyanese Food: Curry chicken and extra flaky roti.
Jamaican Food: Escoveitch Fish or Ackee & Saltfish.
TELL ME A JOKE.
That's a command, not a question.
But, ok.
Q: Why did the frog hop across the road?
A: Because frogs don't walk. Duh.
(I told you I like corny jokes!)
ASK ME MORE!
Have any other questions? Click on the Let's Chat Bubble below, or link me on the contact page! I may not answer right away, but I will as soon as I can.