Illustrator & Author Profile
Anne Wilsdorf
9 Books
Anne Wilsdorf is an illustrator and author of children's books whose lively, warm artwork appears in many picture books and early chapter books. She illustrated Pat Zietlow Miller's Sophie's Squash books, Lenore Look's Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, Eileen Spinelli's The Best Story, and other humorous and character-centered stories for young readers. She has also created her own adaptations and picture-book projects, including Princess, based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea"
A prince brings home a shepherdess named Princess, and his mother is not convinced. Could this girl really be a princess? To find out, the doubtful queen turns to a famous old test involving a pea, a stack of mattresses, and a very particular idea of royalty.
Princess is a witty picture-book retelling inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea. Anne Wilsdorf gives the familiar fairy tale a playful twist, with a down-to-earth heroine and humorous details that make the royal test feel fresh and surprising for young readers.
For children who enjoy clever fairy tales, castles, princes, and princesses, this short retelling keeps the charm of the classic while adding a light, comic touch. It is especially appealing for readers ready to compare traditional tales with newer versions.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Emma is ready for everything. Exploding volcano? She has a ladder. Vampire attack? She has garlic. Zombies? She has practiced her self-defense moves. With her pockets full of just-in-case supplies, Emma feels prepared for all the disasters her imagination can dream up.
But worry does not always disappear just because you make a plan. When Emma faces something she cannot fully control, she has to try a different kind of bravery: noticing her fear, taking a breath, and discovering that she can handle uncertainty.
Funny, lively, and reassuring, Absolutely No Worries is a picture book for readers with big imaginations and everyday jitters. It gently reminds you that courage is not about being ready for every possible disaster. Sometimes it starts with trusting yourself.
6-8 Years
41 Pages
A library story contest has a prize too good to ignore: a roller coaster ride with a favorite author. So the young storyteller in this picture book starts gathering advice. Her brother wants action. Her father votes for laughs. Aunt Jane says the best stories should make people cry. Soon her story is packed with so many borrowed ideas that it hardly feels like hers at all.
The Best Story is a warm, funny celebration of writing, creativity, and finding your own voice. As the narrator tries to please everyone, you get to see how stories can be exciting, silly, dramatic, and heartfelt, but still need one important thing: they should come from the person telling them.
With lively family scenes and a library setting, this is a smart, encouraging read for young writers, classroom story units, and any child learning that their own ideas matter.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
To ride a dragonfly, first you need to be small enough. A rose petal at sunrise can help with that, but there is one important rule: be back by sunset, or you may stay tiny.
How to Ride a Dragonfly turns an impossible wish into a funny set of adventure instructions. Once you shrink to bug size, you can lasso a dragonfly named Priscilla, zip over the swamp, meet beetles and fairies, and watch out for hungry frogs who would be very interested in a dragonfly snack.
Playful and fast-moving, this picture book is perfect for readers who like miniature worlds, silly danger, and wild outdoor make-believe. The story invites you to look at insects and pond life with a new sense of wonder, as if the grass, wings, and buzzing sounds outside might be the start of your next great ride.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Emma knows exactly what she likes: lizards, pirates, cowboy boots, and doing things her own way. Then Uncle Leo sends her a ballerina costume, and suddenly everyone seems to expect floating, twirling, and graceful music. Emma tries, but her dancing flops, trips, and sounds nothing like the ballet she imagined she was supposed to perform.
Tutus Aren't My Style is a funny, energetic picture book about self-expression. Emma does not reject dancing; she simply has to discover a version of it that feels true to her. With humor and bounce, the story shows that you do not have to fit someone else's idea of graceful, pretty, or perfect to take the stage.
Great for readers who like bold characters and playful performance stories, this book celebrates creativity, confidence, and the joy of making your own rules.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Ruby Lu is back for another incredible summer adventure. When her cousin Flying Duck emigrates all the way from China to live with her family, Ruby is thrilled to have a brand new friend. But things get complicated quickly.
Suddenly, no one is speaking English at home, there is strange food on the dinner table, and they have to use chopsticks for every meal. Even trickier, Flying Duck is completely deaf, and Ruby does not know a single word of Chinese Sign Language. On top of everything else, Ruby has to survive the absolute terror of swimming lessons and figure out how to keep a beautiful stray dog that wanders into her yard.
Can the Empress of Everything handle all these massive changes at once? Jump into this funny and heartwarming chapter book to see how Ruby tackles her wildest summer yet.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
176 Pages
The family is ready to snuggle in bed with a story. Then the dogs arrive. One stretches out. One barks. One wants in, then out, then back in again. Soon the cozy bedtime space is full of paws, tails, warm fur, and very little room for anyone else.
Dogs on the Bed is a rollicking, rhyming picture book about the funny chaos pets bring to family life. Young readers who know a dog, love a dog, or wish they had one will recognize the way these furry companions can be noisy, needy, and completely lovable all at once.
With playful humor and warm illustrations, this bedtime story captures the happy mess of a home where pets are part of the family. It is a cheerful read-aloud for dog lovers, bedtime shelves, and families who understand that comfort sometimes comes with four paws.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Bernice is not your average best friend. For one thing she is a squash. While other kids might play with dolls or action figures Sophie prefers the company of her favorite vegetable picked straight from the farmers market. The two of you will go everywhere together from the library to the playroom. But as the leaves start falling and winter approaches Sophie notices something is happening to Bernice. Her parents warn her that squash are not meant to last forever. What do you do when your very best friend in the whole world starts to get soft and spotty. You will have to read to find out how Sophie solves her squash sized problem in this funny and heartwarming story about friendship love and the changing seasons.
6-8 Years
42 Pages
The first day of school is scary enough without having to make human friends. Sophie would much rather hang out with Bonnie and Baxter the two baby squash she grew in her very own garden. When she brings her vegetable best friends to class the other kids do not quite understand. Then there is Steven Green. He sits too close at circle time and breathes on her while she paints. Steven really wants to be friends but Sophie is just not interested. However Sophie knows her squash will not stay fresh forever. Join Sophie as she slowly realizes that making human friends is a lot like growing a garden. It takes a little bit of patience a good apology and just the right amount of time to blossom.
6-8 Years
22 Pages
