Meghan Grana
Writer. Human. Advocate.
About Me
Meghan Grana has been an advocate for students and families across the U.S. for two decades. She holds a master’s degree in speech language and hearing science and has served students with a broad range of communication disorders, including language and learning disabilities, autism, and cognitive impairments.
Recognizing that the greatest factor in overall student achievement is social-emotional wellness, Grana became certified as a Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) in 2018. She now works with thousands of families at one of the largest school districts in the country, just north of Washington, DC. She partners with families, students, and school-based staff in the areas of attendance and engagement, access to community resources, mental health, discipline and behavior, homelessness, and crisis support.
Meghan lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and mini-bernedoodle. She enjoys treasure hunting at local estate sales, making jewelry with her Twizzlers and couch surfing between the living room and playroom with her kids. When she's not doing any of the above, you can find her momming around town listening to true crime podcasts with her 25lb guard dog, Archie.
Call Me Penny Pickleberry
Available for Pre-Order on Aerio, Amazon, Target and Barnes and Noble
September 2022
In Call Me Penny Pickleberry, Penelope learns to reframe her thoughts and overcome negative thought patterns even, and especially, when faced with disappointment. This fun and relatable picture book helps kids manage childhood anxiety and listen to the inner voice that fills them with the courage to conquer everyday obstacles.
What They're Saying
News, Reviews and More
National Publication with PBS
PBS for KIDS Parents
Check out my article on PBS.org on ways to support young children with anxiety and how positive media can support families.
Invited to American Library Association's Annual Conference
June 23-25th, 2022
ALA
Invited by the American Library Association to sign advanced copies of Call Me Penny Pickleberry!
Named Project We Love by Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Call Me Penny Pickleberry was named as a Project We Love when first launched on Kickstarter. This distinction is given to projects handpicked by the Kickstarter team that highlight brilliance and creativity and are a sign of respect and enthusiasm.
Q&A: Vienna Parent Highlights Mental Health in Children's Book
The Patch
Local newspaper discusses children's book seeking normalize the importance of mental health.
Average 5-Star Reviews on NetGalley
NetGalley
NetGalley is available for educators and other professionals to read and review digital advanced reader copies before being available to the rest of the world. Current average rating is 5/5 stars!
Call Me Penny Pickleberry is a gift for any child struggling with anxiety. Grana's sensitive and charming story empowers children to become their own cheerleaders. And the inclusion of simple practices for reorienting negative thoughts and supporting self-confidence is invaluable. A must-have book for school libraries!
Kitty O'Meara, Author of And The People Stayed Home and The Tiny, Rare Flower
Dr. Jonathan Dalton, Director of the Center for Anxiety and Behvavioral Change
Children's thoughts are the window through which their feelings see the world. This book demonstrates this reality in a fun and engaging manner and helps teach children the importance of talking to themselves like their own best friend while also modeling how to accept our own imperfections. This is a very timely book and is highly recommended.
Barbara Butera, PhD., Child Psychologist
A fun and entertaining look at how the thoughts we think can contribute to - or help relieve - feelings of anxiety in children.
The perfect book for parents and educators to teach children about anxiety and the strategies to address it.
Maryam Zolecki, Ed. S., National Board Certified School Psychologist
How I Got Started
Contact
Interested in scheduling a read-aloud, book signing or author's visit? Please reach out! Or feel free to just say hi!
