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Anu D. Misa is an author and illustrator of children’s stories. Besides her love of writing, illustrating, and reading, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and spending time with her family. Anu is also an avid traveller and has been to more countries than she can count on her fingers and toes! While she enjoys these adventures, she always appreciates coming back to her home in Toronto, Canada. Travelling gives her insights into life around the world and provides the sparks for many of her stories! Interestingly, English was not Anu’s first language, and as a child, learning through picture storybooks was so important to her, it left a lifelong impression. Anu has come a long way from those early years learning to read, graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Economics and working in the field for many years, while always making time for her creative passions. Now she delights in the challenge of writing and illustrating stories that captivate children and adults alike. You can visit Anu at: www.booksbymisa.com
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Sometimes it’s difficult to be different: having different clothes, different hairstyles, and so on. However, it can also be cool. For one thing, if you’re not wearing the same outfits as everyone else, you’ll stand out a little more. You’ll be a novelty. Wearing bright colors like orange can definitely make you an item, something unique. Ella doesn’t realize this. She has an orange raincoat that she hates. It makes her stand out, especially with those big polka dots. However, she has to wear it whenever it rains. It keeps her warm, dry, and safe. The special powers of love created this raincoat, the special powers of her grandfather. But Ella doesn’t understand and she doesn’t like having to wear it for the family outing to the amusement park because it’s raining. She’s in for a big surprise, though, and a valuable lesson.
Anu D. Misa’s picture book story, Ella Says: It’s Cool to be Different!, is a charming story about the many ways we might appear different. Young readers will certainly relate to the main character, Ella, as she struggles with having to wear something she doesn’t like because it makes her stand out. But several things happen to Ella at the amusement park and young readers will learn alongside Ella how valuable this orange polka dot raincoat is. And, of course, that there’s always a valid reason why our parents insist we wear certain clothes. Why? Because, like Ella says, “It’s cool to be different.” Especially when these differences can become quite useful. I love the colorful illustrations that really pull this story along. A great read for young and old alike.
