Smack Dab in the Middle

by Anita Riggio

Rosie Roselli comes from a big family and usually receives all the attention she needs, but when everyone suddenly seems too busy to acknowledge her extra good work at school, Rosie decides to run away to prove a point and learns an important lesson in the process.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Anita Riggio was raised in Clifton, New Jersey, and holds a degree in theater from the University of Hartford. She says that as a child she entertained thoughts of becoming a detective, a reporter, an actress, a director and an artist. And today, as a children's book author and illustrator, an art instructor, a wife, and a mother of two children, Ms. Riggio says she gets to do most of those things. She has illustrated Beethoven's Cat and Wiggie Wins the West, both by Elisabet McHugh. Her first picture book, Wake Up, William!, was published by Atheneum in 1987. Ms. Riggio lives in Wethersfield, Connecticut, with her family.

Ms. Riggio is the author and illustrator of Smack Dab in the Middle, Beware the Brindlebeast, Secret Signs, A Moon in My Teacup, Gert & Freida, and Wake Up William! as well as illustrator of The Whispering Cloth, Coal Mine Peaches, Dad Gummit & Ma Foot, and other picture books. Her story "Bingo" appears Such a Pretty Face, a collection of short stories on beauty for young adults.

Anita's highly acclaimed Coveside Writing Workshops are offered annually in the fall. Additionally, Anita offers individual mentoring packages. Information may be found at www.covesidewritingworkshop.com. Anita is a faculty mentor in the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Lesley University.

Anita Riggio is the founder and producer of Fat Chance Production Group, LLC which develops and produces musical theatre. She is currently collaborating as writer and lyricist with A-list composer, Larry Farrow on Brind!ebeast, a radically inclusive, classically scored, new American musical.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about unintentional neglect that the main character suffers within her large family. Honestly, I think this story is a good one for teachers to read, simply because it reminds us to look deeper when we are trying to understand the inner workings, motivations, and moods of a child. The story is set in a Catholic school I think, with a Sister as the teacher, which might have caused it to be neglected by the public school set (myself included), but the message is not a religious one. It's broader than that. It's about being a thorough observer. Also, there is an element of family learning here in that the family is not ignoring her because they are negligent. Rather, they are busy with so much family that they don't realize that they are missing the main character. Overall, it's a pretty normal plot, but it's presented in a way that is bound to make the reader think, no matter what perspective they approach it with. A good read in schools, though maybe be more thought-provoking for adults than the children that they would be sharing it with.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie is smack dab in the middle of a large extended family and each day when she comes home excited about something she did at school (art, music, dance) no one seems to have time for her. Her concerned teacher notices Rosie’s feelings of neglect and when Rosie decides to run away her teacher gives her advice that helps her see that her family is truely right there for her.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story for anyone, "smack dab in the middle."