Stenetta Anthony Inspires Young Minds with Her Award-Winning Children’s Books

PHOTO: Stenetta Anthony, award-winning author, captures the essence of storytelling through her impactful children’s books.

Stenetta Anthony Educator to Children’s Author

Stenetta Anthony discusses her transition from teaching to writing, the themes in her books, and her passion for storytelling.

Stenetta Anthony is a celebrated author whose passion for storytelling has taken her from the classroom to the world of children’s literature. With over a decade of experience as an educator, Stenetta has a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs children face, which she seamlessly weaves into her books. Her works, such as Ella Learns to Dance and A Home for Sally, highlight themes of inclusivity, empowerment, and resilience—values she has long championed in her teaching career. In this interview with Reader’s House Magazine, Stenetta shares her inspiring journey from educator to award-winning author, discussing how her background informs her writing and the importance of creating stories that resonate with young readers.

Stenetta’s work is widely celebrated for its meaningful messages, with her books praised for their powerful themes and diverse characters.

How did your 22-year tenure as an educator influence the themes and stories you choose to write about in your children’s books?

My time in the classroom has taught me the importance of inclusiveness and has had a profound effect on my writing. It is important for me to feature diverse characters and settings that children from all backgrounds can relate to. I’ve seen first-hand how children often struggle with inadequacy, fear, loneliness, disappointment and rejection, just to name a few.  These experiences and many others have had an influence on the themes and stories I choose when writing my children’s books. 

What inspired you to transition from teaching to writing, and how has your educational background shaped your approach to storytelling?

Storytelling is something I have enjoyed since childhood. As a child I often recreated books that I read into different characters and themes and retold them to my younger siblings. I have brought this love for storytelling to the classroom as part of my teaching style. Therefore, the transition from teaching to writing and my love for storytelling is a combination of my passion and creativity.

Could you share the inspiration behind your book “Ella Learns to Dance” and what message you hope young readers take away from it?

Dance is a powerful metaphor I choose to use for “Ella Learns to Dance.” I wanted to dispel some challenges and misconceptions that are sometimes associated with a specific genre of dance. Focusing on what some children may experience on their way to accomplishing their dreams. The message I hope that young readers take away from this book is twofold, first it’s okay that everyone does not approve of your dream and that you must remain positive, have confidence and be persistent so you can reach your goals.

“The message I hope that young readers take away from this book is to remain positive, have confidence, and be persistent.” – Stenetta Anthony

 “A Home for Sally” addresses themes of belonging and acceptance. What motivated you to tackle this subject, and how have readers responded to the story?

The purpose for, “A Home for Sally comes from my experiences as an educator working with diverse learners.. The books that were available to them did not represent children like them. Many of these children (from my experience) face the struggle with being accepted as, “being beautiful and normal,” by some children and adults.  I have witnessed how some of my students and others reacted to their feelings of rejection. This topic is especially close to my heart because I believe that fostering a sense of belonging in all children from a young age builds a foundation for confidence and resilience. This book has been well received and considered, “A treasure of a book with a powerful message. “- Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Your book “31 Days of Treasure” offers daily insights. What was your goal in creating this collection, and how do you envision it being used by families and educators?

When writing 31 Days of Treasures, I envisioned it as a free resource, which can be used by individuals’, educators and others to guide them through their daily life. We discuss a variety of topics and give valuable  insight. Thus creating an open and honest dialogue for discussion. I envision 31 Days of Treasures being used to create curriculums, lesson plans and for group discussions for both the private and public sectors of education. With families also using this collection as a resource to instill their individual family values. Although these are some of the things I saw for this collection; however, my primary purpose for creating this collection is to be used in bringing positive changes into individual lives.

Having earned a degree in educational leadership in 2018, how has this advanced education impacted your writing and the themes you explore in your books?

My perspective has changed to focus not only on individual achievement. I am more attuned to what children face in diverse settings, so my characters and narratives are a reflection of the challenges and accomplishments experienced by readers. In my writing I have found myself exploring themes about empowerment, persistence and acceptance. This educational leadership degree has become a central part of my writing development.

You’ve received several accolades, including the Mom’s Choice Award and recognition from Midwest Book Review. How have these honours influenced your career, and what do they mean to you personally?

For some authors, they are confident and proudly call themselves authors; however, this was not me. For many years I did not feel like an author. So, receiving the Mom’s Choice Award along with others along with recognition from Midwest Book Reviews was sobering and humbling. Receiving these accolades-built self-confidence as an author, now I am proud to say I am an author, while advancing my career. Where I can now say I am not only an author but an award-winning author. 

What advice would you offer to aspiring authors, especially those aiming to write impactful children’s literature?

The advice I would give is touse the correct language and themes appropriate for their specific ages. Tell a meaningful story that resonates with children, such as friendship, resilience, acceptance and kindness. Create memorable and relatable characters, avoid stereotypes and keep your story engaging from beginning to end. Some authors only consider the writing process; however, you must also become familiar with the business of writing, publishing, finances, and contractual agreements. Build a platform for your literary works using various methods. Most of all, be confident and be patient with yourself.