Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama

* “[A] hilarious series starter … Venus with her literal-mindedness and desire to help is a delightful successor to Amelia Bedelia… . This fast-paced chapter book … will surely be a smash hit as a classroom read-aloud.” – Booklist, STARRED REVIEW“The narrative balances clever wordplay with heart, emphasizing curiosity, problem-solving, and the playful exploration of language. With her literal interpretations and inventive thinking, Venus feels like a modern-day Amelia Bedelia … . Lovett’s expressive black-and-white artwork, interspersed throughout, enhances the text. A winning combination of quirky humor, wordplay, and warm family story.” – Kirkus Reviews“This chapter book explores wordplay and teamwork with a hearty dose of silliness… . Reminiscent of Melissa Thomson’s “Keena Ford” series, this is a solid series debut to add to children’s library collections.” – School Library Journal

Maisha Oso is the author of picture books Buster the Bully, My Hair Is a Book, Before the Ships, and the It’s Almost Time For… series, as well as the Venus Washington chapter book series. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy and analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans.

Courtney Lovett has a BFA in visual arts and animation from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She works in different artistic disciplines, including illustration, character design, and animation. As a Black American and a native of the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, her work reflects her heritage and upbringing, focusing on perspectives that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in art and media.