Meet the Author
Sylvia Rouss grew up in California and first began writing for the children in her preschool class. As an early childhood educator, she was the recipient of awards for both creative teaching and excellence in Jewish education.
Sylvia credits the children in her classroom for her inspiration. She is the author of over fifty published books, including the Sammy Spider series as well as the Littlest series. She received the National Jewish Book Award for her story The Littlest Pair, and the Sydney Taylor Honor Award for Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel and Mitzvah the Mutt. Sammy Spider’s First Shavuot and Tali’s Jerusalem Scrapbook were named Sydney Taylor Notable Books.
Sylvia resides in Oxnard with her husband Jeff, and has three married adult children and seven grandchildren. Besides family and writing, she maintains a busy schedule that includes lecturing and book readings throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel. Her stories have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, French, and Portuguese.
David Titcher is a writer and creator of multiple television series. He may be best known as the creator of TNT’s blockbuster franchise The Librarian, starring Noah Wyle. David was nominated for both a WGA Award and a Saturn Award for his script; The Librarians: The Next Chapter will premiere on the CW in 2024.
David has been particularly successful in writing for children, contributing to shows from the NBC sitcom Punky Brewster to animated series by Disney such as The Little Mermaid, Darkwing Duck, and Bonkers. David also co-created the series Houdini & Doyle, which was internationally produced by Fox and ITV. Most recently, David sold Epidemic, an original one-hour medical mystery series, to NBC.
When it comes to feature films, David wrote Disney’s Around the World in 80 Days starring Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as the teen cult film Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home. He has also written and sold a variety of original features, TV movies, miniseries, and episodes to buyers ranging from Joel Silver to Jim Henson to Steven Spielberg.
Details
Format: Paperback, Hardcover, Ebook
Pages: 32
ISBN PB: 978-1-962416-67-2
ISBN HC: 978-1-962416-66-5
ISBN EB: 978-1-962416-68-9
Release Date: 1/21/2025
Endorsements
“You’re Not Invited! is an adorable picture book about diversity, acceptance, preconceptions, and how people can surprise us. Prolific author Sylvia Rouss has teamed up with accomplished screenwriter David Titcher to create a story about how three outcasts save the day.
When the Queen Bee invites all the insects to her party, those without six legs are not invited. Shelly Snail, Speedy Centipede, and Willy Worm are “Ooey Gooeys” who are not welcome. However, when a “Bigfoot” and his mechanical monster plow up the garden, it is those outcasts who have the ingenuity and ability to help save the rest of the bugs. The story is cute, and the methods the heroes use to help save everyone will make any reader laugh. The authors have also included a few jokes for the older reader. I got a giggle from the names of the party bands. The cute colorful illustrations by Rick Penn-Kraus were just as clever as the text.”
—Julie Ditton, “The Storybook Lady,” prolific book reviewer
“So amazing! You’re Not Invited! is a heartwarming story that explores the theme of social exclusion and the true value of acceptance, kindness, and helping others, even when they may not be worthy. The illustrations capture young readers’ imaginations and bring the story to life with vibrant colors and inspired scenes, evoking all sorts of emotions. A beautiful and wonderful book!”
—Katherine Choe, principal, Mar Vista Elementary School for Advanced Studies, Los Angeles
“You’re Not Invited! is a well-illustrated children’s book that educates, through a story, how people can benefit from being more inclusive and not excluding others simply because they are different. As a resolution expert, I have seen conflicts that could have been avoided or reduced if the people involved would have learned the lessons this book teaches.”
—Keith Schulner, MBA, Esq., Master of Dispute Resolution, Resolution and Improvement Expert
“You’re Not Invited! is cleverly conceived and wittily worded! The story of hurt feelings, friendship, responsibility, and forgiveness comes to life in a fast-moving tale that is visually engaging and color- bursting on every page. Willy Worm, Speedy Centipede, and Shelly Snail are a wonderful trio, who model for young readers creative problem-solving and initiative in a playfully told story. The book is adorable! I loved the characters, the humor (which keeps parents engaged with a book!), and the important values each character portrays. And the artist! The visuals are so engaging!”
—Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller, Temple Beth Torah, Ventura, California
Meet the Illustrator
Rick Penn-Kraus is a freelance creative director specializing in variety: graphic design, photography, illustration, social media content, software instruction, motion graphics, fine art, and more. Rick began his career in magazines and then book publishing, leading the graphics departments at Price Stern Sloan and Dove Books. From there he moved into international marketing and PR at Hill & Knowlton and Weber Shandwick, where he won numerous awards and juried international design competitions. In addition to his creative work, he also teaches numerous software programs—InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, etc.—throughout the country, as well as comic book cartooning and guitar, and has taught at UCLA, Harvard-Westlake, and New Roads High School in Los Angeles. He currently freelances for a wide variety of clients that have included Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UC Press, Pepsi, Colliers, Amgen, and many others. Rick also participates actively in numerous volunteer arenas, including performing music at local hospitals, leading the local Cub Scout pack, and helping at schools in the area.
