Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, will release various children’s books through a publishing program with Penguin Random House. The first picture book, Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise!: Encouraging Speech and Learning Through Play and Music, will be available on Sept. 24.
Accurso is an educator who creates YouTube videos and resources that strive to help kids reach key milestones and often focuses on speech development. She has dual master’s degrees in early childhood development and music education, so her videos often feature original and familiar songs that support the video’s lesson. Accurso has also appeared on multiple national outlets such as Good Morning America.
The debut picture book features an illustrated Ms. Rachel, complete with her pink shirt, blue overalls, and pink headband seen in her videos. The story, crafted from Accurso’s educational expertise, will incorporate key lessons from her YouTube channel and exercises like pointing and call and response. Kids will also recognize characters and music from their favorite videos.
“Ms. Rachel’s debut into the world of publishing is magical,” says Barbara Marcus, President and Publisher at Random House Books for Young Readers. “She has captivated the hearts of children far and wide with her original songs and stories, including my grandson, and we are thrilled to support Ms. Rachel’s new world of imagination and joy for years to come.”
Families can pair the story with Ms. Rachel’s collection of developmental, early learning toys, including Ms. Rachel’s Surprise Learning Box, which will be available this fall from Spin Master. Kids can develop their sensory, motor, social/emotional, cognitive, and communication skills through Ms. Rachel’s published stories and toys.
“It is truly a privilege to be able to teach and connect with children not just through YouTube but also through books and the enduring magic of storytime,” Accurso says.
Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise!: Encouraging Speech and Learning Through Play and Music is available for preorder now. Additional upcoming titles from Accurso and Penguin Random House will be revealed soon. For more information, visit ms.rachel.com.
MS. RACHEL AND THE SPECIAL SURPRISE!: ENCOURAGING SPEECH AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY AND MUSIC
In this picture book, readers will recognize Ms. Rachel in her iconic pink shirt, blue overalls, and pink headband. Kids will also notice characters from the Ms. Rachel YouTube channel. The picture book features key lessons from the channel and exercises like call and response and pointing. The book will be available on Sept. 24.
