Photo Credit: Jamie Richard Hairsytlist
About Anna
Anna Crowley Redding has wanted to be a writer since elementary school. From poems to journals to made-up tales about quirky characters on crazy adventures, she always had a story going. Tucked away in an unmarked box in her garage, Anna still has her diary from age 12. (But the diary is locked and she lost the tiny key long ago.)
When Anna wasn’t writing, she was busy asking people lots and lots and lots of questions. She could usually be found sniffing out trouble, drama, and interesting tidbits—so she could then tell everyone what she’d discovered.
These tendencies (some say curious, others say nosy) led her straight to the nearest newsroom—a place full of other prying, question-asking, chatty writers. As an investigative TV reporter, Anna reported on consumer scams, forest fires, crime, protests, crazy weather and much, much more. She even got to meet President Jimmy Carter (who she voted for in her Weekly Reader at age 5). Anna received multiple Edward R. Murrow awards and was recognized by the Associated Press. An Emmy award brought the chance to walk a real red carpet and thank her Dad for putting up with her!
Then she became a mom to two boys (who are also chatty, inquisitive fellas). And one day while encouraging them to follow their dreams… she felt the unmistakable tug of her own long-forgotten dream: becoming a writer for young readers.
And so Anna set out on a new adventure—using her stealthy detective skills to dig up stories for young people. From history to technology to current events and super cool science (including how you can make power from poop), Anna’s days are spent in writer heaven, writing for young readers.
Anna and her boys live outside of Portland, Maine. Anna is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. The reviews for Anna’s debut nonfiction Google It: A History of Google are in!
“Investigative journalist Redding does an admirable job of chronicling Larry and Sergey’s amazing successes and will inspire young people to follow in their ingenious footsteps. It’s more comprehensive than other books for young readers about Google’s founders, with energetically written short chapters, interesting facts, graphics, and photos” ―Booklist, starred review
“This readable and breezy history of the tech behemoth [is] An appealing and timely look at a universally relevant subject and a good fit for STEAM-related reading lists.” ―School Library Journal
“This chronological history of the first two decades of Google is attractively packaged to appeal to a teen audience. … Humorous accounts of Google’s unpretentious beginnings as a student project, and its early years as a bare-bones startup in a friend’s garage will intrigue teens who dream of growing their own projects into software and devices used by millions.” ― VOYA
And Anna’s follow up, Elon Musk: A Mission To Save the World was named a BEST STEM BOOK by the National Science Teachers Association for 2020.
In April 2020, Anna will debut her first picture book, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How we Almost Lost the Words that Build America. This long-forgotten true tale follows a hero’s epic journey to save America’s Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and other founding documents from British torches! Kirkus Reviews says “This rollicking tale gives a nice sense of the time period. It also emphasizes how the actions of a less-than-famous but determined individual can have great effect and demonstrates that each person’s role in history—even one that focuses on packing up government files and papers—is important. Budding historians as well as those unfamiliar with history will both enjoy this pleasant, fast-moving selection.”
Anna’s work has been published in three languages.
