Ficocelli, Elizabeth

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Ficocelli, Elizabeth

PERSONAL:

Born in NY; married; husband's name Mark; children: four sons. Religion: Roman Catholic.

ADDRESSES:

Home—OH. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Author of faith-based books for children and adults. Worked as an advertising copywriter for twenty years.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Catholic Press Association first-place award, 2006, for Child's Guide to the Seven Sacraments; Catholic Press Association second-place award, 2007, for The Imitation of Christ for Children; Texas Library Association 2 × 2 Reading List selection, 2007, for Kid Tea.

WRITINGS:

Child's Guide to First Holy Communion, illustrated by Anne Catharine Blake, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Child's Guide to Reconciliation, illustrated by Anne Catharine Blake, Paulist Press (Mahwah, NJ), 2003.

(Editor) Shower of Heavenly Roses: Stories of the Intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux, Crossroad (New York, NY), 2004.

Child's Guide to the Seven Sacraments, illustrated by Anne Catharine Blake, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2005.

The Imitation of Christ for Children: A Guide to Following Jesus, illustrated by Chris Sabatino, Paulist Press (Mahwah, NJ), 2006.

The Fruits of Mejugorje: Stories of True and Lasting Conversion, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2006.

Lourdes: Font of Faith, Hope, and Charity, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2007.

Kid Tea, illustrated by Glin Dibley, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, NY), 2007.

Child's Guide to the Rosary, illustrated by Anne Catharine Blake, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2008.

Contributor to periodicals, including St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian, America, Columbia, Catholic Parent, Take Out (Our Sunday Visitor), and Lay Witness online.

SIDELIGHTS:

Elizabeth Ficocelli wrote advertising copy for over two decades, until her strong Catholic faith finally prompted her to use her writing talent to share her religious beliefs. Since 2003, she has produced several books for adult readers, such as Lourdes: Font of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and has also published articles focusing on her experiences as an adult convert to Catholicism. However, most of Ficocelli's books have been geared for children, among them a series of books that focus on the Sacraments and a secular picture book titled Kid Tea.

Ficocelli's experiences raising four rambunctious sons were the inspiration for Kid Tea, which finds the hue of the water in a child's nightly bath changing along with each day's activity. In addition to counting down the days of the week, Ficocelli's story combines with artist Glin Dibley's illustrations to teach color concepts as well. From play-in-the-mud brown to green grass-stained knees green to sticky popsicle purple to bright fingerpaint yellow, the colorful bathwater reveals all in a "bathtime rhyme [that] will tickle young children," according to a Kirkus Reviews writer. Ficocelli's "singsong rhymes lend themselves to a rollicking read-aloud session" that begs for "plenty of child participation," according to School Library Journal contributor Susan E. Murray.

Ficocelli has received much recognition for her faith-based books for children, all of which are published by Paulist Press. In The Imitation of Christ for Children, she presents the moral teachings set forth by Thomas à Kempis in his Imitation of Christ. She then expands on this classic text by including contemporary real-life vignettes that illustrate his teachings, then adds suggestions for creative projects and a list of questions intended to encourage further reflection. Her picture-book series, which includes Child's Guide to the Seven Sacraments, Child's Guide to First Holy Communion, Child's Guide to Reconciliation, and Child's Guide to the Rosary, is geared for children between ages five and nine. Each book presents basic information about the sacraments that is paired with colorful illustrations by Anne Catharine Blake. Ficocelli's inclusion of discussion questions in each book makes the series useful for both classroom and home use.