PHOTO: Danielle Ramseur-Fischer, award-winning author, shares her passion for children’s literature with a warm smile and thoughtful presence.
Award-Winning Author Of Children’s Books And Advocate For Early Literacy
Danielle Ramseur-Fischer discusses her journey as a children’s author, focusing on educational themes, cultural representation, and the importance of fostering a love for reading in young minds.
Danielle Ramseur-Fischer’s literary journey began with a deep desire to ignite a lifelong love of reading in young children. Her books, such as It’s Bedtime and Elias is the Mightiest, are born from the intersection of her extensive experience as an educator and her passion for storytelling. With each narrative, she offers not just a tale, but an invitation to explore the boundless worlds of imagination, culture, and self-belief, all while gently encouraging early literacy.
In her writing, Ramseur-Fischer draws from the rhythms of everyday life—whether it’s a child’s playful resistance to sleep or the heartwarming bond between grandparent and grandchild. Her work speaks directly to the hearts of both children and parents, creating relatable experiences that resonate across generations. As a grandmother herself, her stories carry a personal depth, an emotional undercurrent that reflects her own love for family and her commitment to educational equity.
Her focus on empowering young minds extends beyond the written word. Through her nonprofit initiative, Bundle of Books, she strives to provide all children, regardless of background, with the foundational literacy tools they need. Ramseur-Fischer’s belief in the transformative power of books fuels her mission to create stories that are both entertaining and instructive, helping children build vital skills while igniting their imagination.
In this edition, we delve into the mind of a writer who understands that a story is never just a story—it is a bridge, a tool, and a key to opening doors to the future. Through her thoughtful, engaging works, Danielle Ramseur-Fischer has crafted not only books, but pathways to lifelong learning.
Danielle’s heartfelt storytelling and dedication to early literacy create engaging, meaningful stories that inspire both children and adults alike.
How did your three decades of elementary teaching influence the themes and illustrations in Elias is the Mightiest?
My three decades of teaching greatly influenced the themes and illustrations in Elias is the Mightiest. Drawing on my experience with children ages 0 to 7, I considered what topics and language would engage them, especially those commonly heard in K5 through 2nd grade classrooms, on the playground, and even while walking in line. The illustrations were inspired by the text on each page, and my years as a school librarian reading aloud to young students helped guide the placement of those illustrations. Through careful observation, I noticed that children are more drawn to pictures that are not obstructed by text. That’s why I chose to place the words on the left page and the illustrations on the right—to create a clear, engaging experience for young readers.
Elias is the Mightiest celebrates African American heritage—what inspired the character of Elias and how did you balance cultural representation with superhero elements?
Elias is the Mightiest celebrates African American heritage through the lens of childhood imagination and bravery. The inspiration for Elias came from my grandson, who was around 3 or 4 years old at the time. I wanted the main character to resemble him so that he—and other children who look like him—could see themselves reflected in the story. One Halloween, Elias dressed up as Superman, and that image stayed with me. It sparked the idea of blending cultural representation with superhero elements, focusing on traits like courage, strength, and self-belief. Elias’s character is a reminder that every child, especially those who are often underrepresented, deserves to feel mighty and seen.
“My goal is to provide children with books that spark engagement and inspire them to become lifelong learners.” – Danielle Ramseur-Fischer
As a grandmother to Elias, did your personal relationship influence the emotional depth of Elias is the Mightiest?
Yes, the emotional depth of Elias is the Mightiest was deeply influenced by my personal relationship with my grandson. At the time, Elias had moved several times, and I found myself missing him terribly. Writing the story became a way to express both the longing I felt and the love I have for him. Each page reflects that special bond—one filled with pride and the heartfelt hope that he always sees himself as brave, strong, and loved.
Your My Animal Counting Book 1 10 uses rhythmic storytelling to teach numeracy—what challenges did you face creating engaging educational content?
Being an educator definitely guided my decision on which area of early math development to focus on in My Animal Counting Book 1–10. As I developed the story, I recognized two foundational math skills that emerged, counting with one-to-one correspondence (cardinality) and counting in correct numerical order. I designed the mini lesson to support parents in helping their child build these skills through fun and repetition. My goal is for the book to serve as a helpful tool for toddlers, preschoolers, and early learners who may be struggling with counting in sequence. Creating engaging educational content meant balancing rhythm, visuals, and clear instructional purposes while making the experience enjoyable for both child and adult.
It’s Bedtime explores a child’s imaginative excuses to avoid sleep—how did researching children’s bedtime routines shape that narrative?
It’s Bedtime was actually the very first book I wrote—over 20 years ago. The inspiration came from my own son, who is now 28. When he was around six years old, bedtime was always a challenge. He’d come up with the most creative and persistent excuses to avoid going to sleep. I remember thinking, what does he think we’re doing while he’s asleep that he’s so afraid to miss? That question stayed with me and sparked the idea for the story. While I didn’t formally research bedtime routines at the time, my real-life experience as a mother—and later as an educator—helped shape a narrative that so many parents and children can relate to.
“Elias’s character is a reminder that every child deserves to feel mighty and seen.” – Danielle Ramseur-Fischer
You founded Bundle of Books Inc. to serve families—how does this nonprofit effort inform the themes of literacy and equality in your recent works?
My books were born from the mission behind Bundle of Books Inc. As an educator, I often saw so many kindergarteners through 2nd grade students enter school with little to no foundational skills. I felt I had to do something to support parents in building those early literacy and learning foundations—skills like counting to 10, identifying letters, spelling their name, and developing vocabulary. When building my nonprofit, I wasn’t sure where the books would come from. I remember expressing this concern to my daughter, who was 26 at the time. She simply said, “Mom, why don’t you write the books?” My immediate response was, “I can’t do that.” But she reminded me: I’d been teaching for decades, and I’d served as a school librarian for 8 years. I took her advice to the Lord in prayer, and within two weeks, God placed 11 children’s stories on my heart. I wrote them with a focus on increasing early literacy and providing equitable access to developmentally appropriate books. That moment was nothing short of miraculous. Today, the stories I’ve published serve families in a way that promotes both literacy and equality—ensuring all children have a chance to start school ready to learn.
Many of your works include complementary activity books—how do you decide which creative learning activities best support each story?
The mini-lessons I create play a key role in helping me decide which skills to highlight in each complementary activity book. For example, with My Animal Counting Book 1–10, my years of teaching guided me to focus on cardinality—a foundational math skill for young learners. I knew this concept would naturally reinforce the counting lesson introduced in the story. The goal is always to offer activities that support what’s being taught in the book and provide parents, families, and teachers with practical ways to extend learning through, hands-on engagement.
What advice would you give aspiring children’s book authors about blending educational goals with engaging storytelling, based on your experience?
I would encourage aspiring children’s book authors to first consider how their story can address the skills children most often struggle with, as well as the foundational skills needed at specific age or grade levels. Using Common Core Standards or early learning guidelines can be a helpful tool to identify these focus areas. Let the standards guide your understanding of what children need to be proficient in at each stage, then sequence those educational goals into a story that feels engaging and meaningful. When done thoughtfully, storytelling can both entertain and teach—making a lasting impact on a child’s learning journey.
“Creating engaging educational content meant balancing rhythm, visuals, and clear instructional purposes while making it enjoyable.” – Danielle Ramseur-Fischer
