Jennifer

Fosberry

Bestselling Picture Book Author

NYT Bestseller

Travels from: Oakland, CA

She appeals to all age groups. She has even presented to an audience ranging from Kinder to 8th grade and kept ALL of the kids engaged and interested! — Stephanie Kilgore, Changing Hands Bookstore

Jennifer Fosberry is a New York Times Bestselling children’s book author. She is known for the Isabella series, including My Name is Not Isabella (2010 Sourcebooks), Isabella Star of the Story (2014 Sourcebooks), Isabella Artist Extraordinaire (2018 Sourcebooks), and more.

Born and raised in a small town in upstate New York with two younger brothers, Jennifer’s mother helped start the library in her town and her father ran the local pharmacy. After studying physics and industrial engineering, Jennifer moved to Silicon Valley and retired from the tech industry after ten years. After running away with her family to Costa Rica for a few years, Jennifer returned to the San Francisco Bay area to read, write, and try to get out of housework.

Jennifer lives with her patient husband, her three darling children, and her two little dogs, too.

Jennifer's Featured Titles

Isabella: Star of the Story

Sourcebooks Jaberwocky |

May 1, 2020

Picture Book

Every day is an adventure with Isabella

An everyday visit to the library becomes an unexpected adventure through the pages of classic children’s book favorites Like Goldilocks, Isabella searches for a book that is juuust right.

Should she host a silly tea party in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter? Take a Technicolor trip through Oz with the Cowardly Lion? Or have a swashbuckling good time with the Lost Boys?

Join Isabella as she imagines herself in the starring role of these beloved stories and discovers the extraordinary power of reading. Anything is possible between the pages of a good book

Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

My Name is Not Alexander

March 7, 2016

Alexander takes a rip-roaring historical adventure! Through his imaginative journey, Alexander discovers how great men become heroes: the roughest rider can be surprisingly gentle, a strong leader is also the most peaceful, and sometimes, being brave about what makes you different will not only help you break records, but inspire others. So begins the day for Alexander, an imaginative little boy who explores the innovative men who influenced and shaped our world including Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Chief Joseph, Jackie Robinson, Fred Astaire, and more! Join Alexander as he learns how these remarkable men changed the world and encouraged him to find the hero within himself.

Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Isabella: Girl on the Go

Sourcebooks Jaberwocky |

February 21, 2012

Picture Book

A New York Times Bestseller Isabella: Girl on the Go is the perfect book choice when looking for on the go books for kids, kids books on geography, or empowering stories for little girls and boys

Isabella’s and her dreams are turning an ordinary backyard into an extraordinary adventure A must-read for lovers of the Isabella series: My Name is not Isabella, Isabella: Star of the Story, Isabella: Girl in Charge, and My Name is not Alexander.

The precocious, purple-haired traveler spends the day playing with her dad as she pretends everyday things (like the sandbox) are extraordinary places. Isabella ends the day in her own home-sweet-home, the most wonderful place to be. Travel around the world to places like:

Pyramids of Giza
Eiffel Tower
Great Wall of China
Chichen Itza
Big Ben
Statue of Liberty

Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

My Name Is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream?

Sourcebooks Jaberwocky |

September 1, 2010

Picture Book

A rollicking read-aloud and terrific “read-to-myself” story, full of complete with backmatter about Isabella’s favorite women throughout history

A New York Times Bestseller

Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream? Ask Isabella…
She takes a wild ride–and discovers the sky’s the limit

Who Is Your Hero?

Isabella’s include U.S. Astronaut Sally Ride, activist Rosa Parks, and sharpshooter Annie Oakley–but there’s no bigger hero than Isabella’s own mommy Join Isabella on an adventure of discovery–and find out how imagining to be these extraordinary women teaches her the importance of being her extraordinary self.

“This story…speaks frankly about self-identity and self affirmation as Isabella decides at the end that she is actually herself…because she possesses the best parts of all of the women she looks up to.”–ForeWord Magazine

“The colorful mixed-media artwork reinforces the fanciful, upbeat tone of the book. Use this story to ignite young readers’ interest in women’s history.” —School Library Journal

Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Interactive Author Reading for students (all levels)

My Name is Not.... What is a Hero? (PreK and up)

Would you like to get your students thinking about what makes a real hero? How can we be inspired by the people around us? This program points out some people who made a difference in our world and dares kids to dream.

The Journey of a Book from Idea to Reader (all levels)

The Writing Process (all levels)

Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
Jennifer has done multiple school visits for all of her books for Changing Hands Bookstore. I have always received back rave reviews about her presentation and her attitude! One of the amazing things to me is that it is not just the “picture book” age that enjoys her presentation – she appeals to all age groups. She has even presented to an audience ranging from Kinder to 8th grade and kept ALL of the kids engaged and interested!