Small-Girl Zora and the Shower of Stories: A Tall Tale Based on the Life and Work of Zora Neale Hurston -- Giselle Anatol, Hardcover

A tall tale inspired by the life and works of American writer, folklorist, and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston

Small-girl Zora knows her stories are going to change the world. Although her neighbors might not believe her outlandish tales, she's sure they're the key to ending the drought in her town. If she can make people laugh at her stories, she'll be able to gather enough tears to bring back her mama's garden and more. But when things don't go exactly as planned, Zora learns that with creativity, determination, and faith, a little magic might be possible.

Filled to the brim with references to Zora Neale Hurston's classic characters and details from her own life, Small-Girl Zora and the Shower of Stories is a joyful tribute to an icon of American literature and the everlasting power of storytelling.

Author: Giselle Anatol
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: 01/13/2026
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780593404898
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 09/01/2025 pg. 73
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2025

About the Author
Giselle Anatol is a professor of English at the University of Kansas. She is the author of Small-Girl Toni and the Quest for Gold, influenced by the life and work of Toni Morrison, which Kirkus Reviews called "glowing and overflowing with the legacy of the author who inspired it." She lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Raissa Figueroa is the illustrator of several picture books, including Small-Girl Toni and the Quest for Gold and We Wait for the Sun, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor, as well as four starred reviews. She lives outside of San Diego.

Visit her online at RizzyFig.com or follow her on social media @RizzyFig.