Have you ever wanted to travel the world? How about seeing it through the eyes of a chihuahua?!

In Lisa Manzione’s children’s book series, The Adventures of Bella and Harry, you get exactly that … in a fun-filled way.

With experience in both travel (Manzione is the child of a parent who worked for a major airline) and children’s literature (she’s a  member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), Lisa crafts a line of stories that encourages kids’ imagination and drive to explore the world. The adorable chihuahuas Bella and Harry certainly help too!

Please welcome award-winning author Lisa Manzione to the spotlight!

MCA: Welcome to the spotlight Lisa, we are so glad you were able to visit! Can you tell us about what motivated you to create your product?

Lisa: The motivation behind The Adventures of Bella and Harry series is to teach children about geography, customs and cultures throughout the world. As parent, I believe it is our responsiblity to ensure our children see the world in its entirety.

MCA: Now that you have award-winning books, what are your goals for the next year?

Lisa: The goals for The Adventures of Bella and Harry have been set very high for 2012!

• We plan to have four additional hardcover books published by March 2012.
• We have been asked to create stuffed animals to accompany the books. The stuffed animals should be available by the end of 2011.
• And not far off….eBooks! 

MCA: Please name three ways your Mom’s Choice Award® will help you attain your goals.

Lisa: The Mom’s Choice Award® immediately conveys to the buyer this is a product that meets a benchmark of excellence. As a parent, this is a very important part of any purchase. The beautiful seal immediately boosts sales
through brand recognition.

The support of the MCA organization through web links, such as Baker and Taylor, Books A Million, etc., is priceless. In addition, the promotional opportunities availabe at the MCA booth as such events as BookExpo America and the Beijing Book Fair are immeasurable.

 MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an writer in creating your award-winning product?
Lisa: I have learned that I can be the writer I always thought I could be! Through hard work, dedication, preservance and the support of the MCA program, the series is destined for success!

MCA: Since launching your books, what has been your most rewarding
experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Lisa: Receiving the Mom’s Choice Award® has been the most rewarding experience to date! Being included in a group that is recognized for exellence and quality is extremely rewarding.

Also, on behalf of the series, we have donated 100 books and book bags to a local public school. Seeing the childrens faces light up with excitement as they received the books, has been my favorite memory to date!

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

The Adventures of Bella And Harry
by Lisa Manzione; illustrated by Kristine Lucco
TriMark Press, 2011
Gold 2011, Children’s Picture Book – Peoples, Places & Cultures

Contact, Connect and Network with Lisa

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.