Bio

Back in the Old Days

Susanna Leonard Hill grew up in New York City with her mom and dad, one sister and two brothers, and an assortment of cats. She went to the Brearley School for K – 12, then received her B.A. in English and Psychology from Middlebury College. She then went on to get her M.A. and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and Special Education of Children With Learning Disabilities from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

She worked for many years teaching dyslexic students, but stopped after her third child was born. Now she spends her time being a mom, writing, teaching writing, and visiting schools whenever she gets the opportunity.

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Becoming a Writer…

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Susanna began writing as soon as she could hold a pencil. She used to lie on the kitchen floor and ask her mom how to spell things. She wrote her first book in 2nd Grade. It is called The Girl and The Witch and she will read it to you if she comes to visit your school!

Her first published book was The House That Mack Built, released by Little Simon in 2002.

Since then, she has published thirty more books including 5 New York Times Bestsellers:

Awards include:
– New York Times Bestseller
– New York Times #1 Bestseller
– Wallstreet Journal Fiction Bestseller
– Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Picture Book Bestseller
– Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Picture Book #1 Bestseller
– USA Today Bestseller
– Junior Library Guild Selection
– Amelia Bloomer Feminist Books For Youth
– Book Sense Children’s Pick
– Children’s Book of the Month
– Gold Mom’s Choice Award
– Itabashi Translation Award
 – Parents Magazine #1 Board Book of 2017
– CBC Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2017
– CBC Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2018
– Chik-fil-a Kids’ Meal Book 2020
– CBC Hot Off The Press List 2022
– Amazon Best Book 2022
– Amazon Editor’s Pick Best Books ages 3-5
– Amazon #1 Bestseller
– Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers
– CYBILS Award Finalist
– Bookroo Book Box Selection

Susanna’s books have been translated into French, Dutch, German, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish, and Thai.