Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent anywhere she goes. She finds inspiration in city living and the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora. She is passionate about creating stories that reflect the children within her community. She is a proud veteran public school teacher who comes from a long line of educators. Her debut picture book My Block Looks Like, illustrated by two-time Coretta Scott King Book Award–winning illustrator Frank Morrison, has received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and The Horn Book, and was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.