Summer is officially here. Yay! It's a great time to take a trip and enjoy somewhere new, no matter if that place is a plane ride away or down the block. In THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS, Mia and Sam travel to many places around the Prairie State. Along the way, they learn interesting things and have all kinds of fun. You can read about their exciting journey by clicking HERE. 

Think about somewhere that you have visited. What did you like most about it? Download the activity below to share your favorite memories from there.

The merriest of holidays to you! I'm sure you're taking time to read every day, and I'm so proud of you for doing that. It makes your brainpower stronger, you know. That's why I'd like to give you a special gift. It's something all readers need: a bookmark!

To get your very own Ellie Ultra bookmark, click on the links to download the images below. And keep reading!

Happy Summer, Ellie Ultra fans!

Now that school is out, how are you using your brainpower? Are you reading books? Writing stories? Making extra-ordinary things? If you want to give your brain a turbo-charged boost, click on the activity below to create your very own superhero! 

Get creating, and have FUN! 

Recently, I visited young authors at a local school and got the chance to hear some of their stories. WOW! I was amazed by their talent. It's only a matter of time before their books start popping up on library shelves. 

It was also beyond awesome to see how much the school appreciates its creative students. Every author (and illustrator!) is celebrated with charisma and encouragement. No doubt it means the world to them! 

Book Riot compiled a list of the best children's books for healthy living, and CHOOSE GOOD FOOD! MY EATING TIPS is included. To see the full list, click HERE. You can also click on the cover below to learn about the fantastic food facts inside the book.

Today marked the 32nd annual Children's Book Fair in Chicago, where readers of all ages came to celebrate stories. It was beyond inspiring! I signed copies of two titles from ELLIE ULTRA and met so many fans of our super girl. The books were graciously sponsored by generous local businesses.

Hugs go out to Ellie's readers, plus my heartfelt appreciation to those who give kids the power to read!

Back in April, the Cleveland Cavaliers used MOVE YOUR BODY!: MY EXERCISE TIPS for an exciting event at Spring Hill Elementary School. More details from the NBA are HERE, plus lots of cool photos of the festivities. (Sneak a peek at some of the photos below.) Go bookworms and the Cavaliers! 

Author visits give me the awesome opportunity to meet fans of my books. But I also get to see them out and about on social media. Readers, thank you for sharing your photos AND superstar smiles!

From now until December 16th, you can enter to win a signed copy of the board book edition of THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS. To enter, hop over to the Facebook page of the Illinois Office of Tourism.

Here are the Terms and Conditions:

This "Sweepstakes" hosted by the Illinois Office of Tourism in partnership with author Gina Bellisario is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. Ten (10) winners will receive one (1) signed copy of the board book edition of THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Open to U.S. addresses only. Entries close 5 pm CST on December 16th. Winners will be selected at random, and all decisions are final. "Sweepstakes" host and partner are not responsible for lost or undelivered prizes. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited.  

Ellie's latest books have arrived! In CAMP HERO DOUBLE TROUBLE, she gets herself caught in a friendship battle between twin superheroes, while SUPER SPOOKED finds her tackling a way-bad fear. Want to learn more? Click on the covers of these two new adventures: 

And more fun news... Ellie now has her very own character page on Capstone Kids. Click HERE to learn all about our super girl, her mighty-good friends, and her favorite things!