Ella Josephine and the Apartment House on Poppy Hill: Book 1

Ages 7 to 10, Grades 2 to 5

Now in paperback! A charming new chapter book by bestselling author Nina LaCour.  

Welcome to 1106 Wildflower Place: It is no ordinary apartment house, but you, reader, are no ordinary visitor. So, please, come in!

Two new tenants have just arrived, and nine-year-old Ella is determined to help them settle in. Who better to teach them about the glitchy lights and the nighttime noises? After all, Ella knows all the neighbors. Well, almost all. No one has met the mysterious Robinsons who live on the top floor. Will a special neighborly celebration change all that? This bighearted chapter book by bestselling author Nina LaCour, highlighted by lively illustrations throughout, celebrates community, friendship, family, and home. It is a place of walking dogs that aren’t yours, keeping surprises secret, and making everyone feel welcome.

Here, the eccentric joy of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of The City merges seamlessly with the antic fun of Ivy + Bean, the family tenderness of The Penderwicks, and the madcap adventure of Eloise in an irresistible story that will leave you eager for the next one!

BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: Nina LaCour is a highly acclaimed author of both YA and adult novels. This is her first novel for younger readers and a terrific introduction of a talented writer to the next generation.

HILARIOUSLY UNIVERSAL: Ella is a strong protagonist that readers of all ages and genders will love. She is bighearted, curious, and just a tad mischievous.

DIVERSE CAST OF CHARACTERS: Featuring many different family structures, this story is wonderfully diverse and inclusive. Any reader can imagine themselves living at 1106 Wildflower Place.

DRAWN FROM AUTHOR’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: The charming characters and their stories were conjured by LaCour and her young daughter during the long walks they took through San Francisco during the early days of Covid-19 and inspired by the people they encountered along the way.

Perfect for: Parents, teachers, and librarians Gift-givers looking for entertaining chapter books for kids who enjoy stories full of humor and heart Readers who love such bestselling book series as Ivy + Bean, Clementine, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones ​

About the Author

Nina LaCour is the bestselling and award-winning author of the acclaimed young adult novels We Are Okay, which received the Printz Award and was selected by Time Magazine as one of its 100 Best YA Books of All Time, Hold Still, The Disenchantments, and Everything Leads to You, as well as the adult novel Yerba Buena. Born and raised in the East Bay, LaCour crossed the bridge to receive her undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University and then crossed back to Oakland to receive an MFA in Creative Writing at Mills College. She now lives in San Francisco with her wife and their daughter.

Sònia Albert worked in a comic studio for several years before pursuing her MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. She loves to tell stories and enjoys experimenting with different media. She has illustrated many children’s books for publishers in the United Kingdom and Europe. Born in Barcelona, she currently lives in Mataró, Spain.