Why now?:The #1 New York Times bestselling series, Dork Diaries, now has dazzling, full-color illustrations for a new generation of middle-grade readers.  Rachel Renee Russell and her daughter Nikki Russell, who illustrates the series, are on a mission to encourage kids to embrace their individuality, and to inspire them to be strong and have self confidence in the face of adversity.  Rachel knows that humor can be a band-aid to help emotional wounds heal, that it can provide temporary relief from stress and worry—and in some cases even provide hope.  Rachel Renee Russell and Nikki Russell are keenly aware of what kids today want.  They set a new direction for illustrated middle grade books when the series was initially introduced, and now that kids today are more visual readers, they are giving readers a full color edition making this a fresh new take on this contemporary classic story about how difficult middle school can be. Rachel’s daughters were actually the inspiration for the series. They were bullied and teased, and had a really hard time fitting in during middle school – something I think any parent of a tween can relate to.  One morning one of her daughters had enough and said “You know what? I'm proud to be a dork, being a dork is cool!” Rachel took the negative meaning behind that word and turned it into something positive.  And she used that concept and channeled it into Dork Diaries.

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