Meet Lissette

Lissette Norman is an Afro-Dominican cultural worker, poet and author of MY FEET ARE LAUGHING and PLATANOS GO WITH EVERYTHING. She is also co-author of the books, ON THE LINE: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette (w/ Jennifer Jones) and UNTIL SOMEONE LISTENS (w/ Estela Juarez). Lissette was awarded the New York Foundation for the Arts – 2018 Artist Fellowship in Fiction, the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Grant, and the Hedgebrook, Millay Arts and Martha’s Vineyard Writers residencies. She was also an Author-in-Residence for the BookUpNYC program through the National Book Foundation. Lissette received her BA in English at SUNY-Binghamton.

Short Bio

Lissette Norman is an Afro-Dominican cultural worker, poet and author of the picture books My Feet Are Laughing and Plátanos Go with Everything. She is also co-author of the picture books, On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette (w/ Jennifer Jones) and Until Someone Listens (w/ Estela Juarez). Lissette received her BA in English at SUNY- Binghamton.

biografia corta

Lissette Norman es una trabajadora cultural afrodominicana, poeta y autora de los libros ilustrado My Feet Are Laughing, Plátanos Go with Everything/Los plátanos van con todo y Abuela’s Library. También es coautora de los libros ilustrados Hasta que alguien me escuche (con Estela Juarez) y On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette (con Jennifer Jones). Lissette es licenciada en Inglés por la Universidad de Binghamton del sistema de la Universidad Estatal de Nueva York.

awards & special recognition

2024    Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year in Spanish (Plátanos Go with Everything/Los Plátanos van con todo)

2023    School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (Plátanos Go with Everything)

2023    School Library Journal Starred Review (On The Line)

2023    NYPL “Vibrant Voices: New Books from Authors of Colors for Kids” (Until Someone Listens)

2023    Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year in Spanish (Until Someone Listens/Hasta que alguien me escuche)

2022    Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (Plátanos Go with Everything/Los Plátanos van con todo)

2022    Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Finalist (Until Someone Listens)

2018    New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction

2015    Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Grant (Fiction)

2013    SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant (Letter of Merit)

2007    Council on the Arts & Humanities for SI “Original Work Grant”

2007    The Poetry Center (Passaic Community College) “Paterson Prize for Books for Young People” (My Feet Are Laughing)

2007    Americas Award “Children’s and Young Adult Literature” (Commended Title) (My Feet Are Laughing)

2007    Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year (My Feet Are Laughing)

2003    Lee & Low Books “New Voices Honor Award” (My Feet Are Laughing)