Hi! I'm Annette Whipple.
I write nonfiction for kids because I think facts are fun and want children to live in wonder.
(Scroll down to read an official bio.)
It wasn't until I began blogging that I realized how much I enjoyed writing. Soon, I became a student of the writing craft. Eventually I attended my first writing conference. My first book was published in 2016. Now I have more than twenty books for curious young readers with more on the way. Recently I was honored to be named the 2025 Outstanding Pennsylvania Author by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.
I love the opportunity to present at schools, libraries, and community events. I provide author visits as well as workshops for writers, professional development for teachers, and encouragement for adults. With interactive and engaging programs, I inspire and educate children on topics like writing, science, and history. My adult programs challenge the audience to live with curiosity, write with wonder, and raise readers in a world of screens.
When I'm not writing or speaking to a group, you might find me hiking, baking (or burning) cookies, or playing Nertz with my family in Pennsylvania.Little known fact: I was a late reader. And I didn't like writing stories as a student.
Some favorite fiction series: Narnia, The Penderwicks, Little Women, Little House, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Betsy-Tacy, Amari, Henry Huggins and Romana Quimby, Jasmine Toguchi, The Great Peach Experiment
Some favorite nonfiction authors: Candace Fleming, Miranda Paul, Heather L. Montgomery, Steve Sheinkin, Leslie Bulion, Jason Chin, Melissa Stewart, Sarah Albee, Traci Sorell...and so many more
Favorite foods: cheese pizza, homemade bread, chocolate chip cookies
Favorite movie: The Princess Bride
Favorite TV shows: Psych, The Middle
Favorite drinks: water (no ice), vanilla chai (hot tea)
Favorite colors: green and purple
Books I read every year: Emily of Deep Valley, To Kill a Mockingbird, Little Women
Two recent books I loved: Mountain of Fire by Rebecca E. F. Barone and Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins
If You Want to Know More...
I grew up in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, near New York state. I have fond memories of playing in the creek (though we called it a "crick") and working on the farm. My own teachers inspired me to become a teacher.Following college, I taught middle school students in a camp environment in New England. There, we focused on hands-on math and science activities as well as environmental education. (I got paid to take kids hiking and show them how incredible nature is.) It was a great experience and stayed with me during my traditional classroom years. When my oldest daughter was born, I left the classroom though I continued teaching children in my church.
In 2009, I began blogging. (Blogging is a lot like writing letters.) Later I took a few writing classes and then attended my first writing conference in 2015. I'm a lifelong learner, so I won't stop taking classes even though I love to teach others. There's always more to learn. I currently have twenty-one published books and contracts for several more. I love writing and sharing history and science.
Brief, Formal Bio
Annette Whipple celebrates
curiosity and inspires others to live in wonder. She is the author of more than
20 fact-filled children’s books including The Laura Ingalls Wilder
Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press), Quirky
Critter Devotions (Tyndale), and many animal books in The Truth About
series (Reycraft Books). She’s been named the 2025 Outstanding Pennsylvania
Author/Illustrator by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. However, the people who know Annette best think of her as a wife and mom, former teacher, nature lover, chocolate chip cookie baker (and sometimes burner), people-loving introvert who lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Get to know her at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.
Longer, Formal Bio
Children's author Annette Whipple writes informational books to inspire curiosity and wonder in children. She’s the author of more than twenty published books including The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press), Quirky Critter Devotions: 52 Wild Wonders for Kids (Tyndale), and many books in The Truth About series (Reycraft Books). The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association named Annette the 2025 Outstanding Pennsylvania Author.After graduating from Kutztown University with a BS in elementary education, Annette went on to teach elementary and middle school students as an environmental educator and classroom teacher. She learned to love science and history while teaching. After she left the classroom, she improved her writing through classes and workshops. Her first book was published in 2016.
Today Annette provides interactive programs and workshops to engage
participants in topics like writing, science, and history. She also mentors writers and provides professional development workshops to educators focusing on writing. When she’s not
writing or teaching children, educators, and writers, you might find Annette
snacking on warm chocolate chip cookies. Annette lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania
with her husband and three children. Learn more about Annette’s books and
presentations at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.
Upcoming Trade Books
Flick! The Truth About Lizards (Reycraft Books)
2024 Books
Quirky Critter Devotions: 52 Wild Wonders for Kids (Tyndale)Chomp! The Truth About Sharks (Reycraft Books)Christmas (words & pictures/Quarto)
2022 Books
Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs (Reycraft Books)
Meow! The Truth About Cats (Reycraft Books)
2021 Books
Woof! The Truth About Dogs (Reycraft Books)
Scurry! The Truth About Spiders (Reycraft Books)
2020 Books
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press)Whooo Knew? The Truth about Owls (Reycraft Books)
The Story of the Wright Brothers (Rockridge Press)
Additional Books:
Social Media
You can get to know me on Facebook and Instagram @AnnetteWhippleBooks. On Twitter you'll find me @AnnetteWhipple. For Little House fans, find me on Facebook @TheLauraIngallsWilderCompanion and my blog WilderCompanion.com.Want to know even more?
Check out my FAQ. Or my author visit FAQ.This newspaper article featured a 2018 author visit.
Or read an article about a library program here.
Teaching writers...
A virtual mini author visit...
