Children’s book author Antwanette Serrano grew up in Hartford, Connecticut before moving to Manchester, Connecticut in high school, which is also where she purchased her first of three homes. With a deep-rooted passion for literacy, she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Elementary Education and Reading from Central Connecticut State University, in New Britain.
Becoming an author was a natural path for Serrano, who has been teaching elementary school children in Connecticut for the past 27 years. “I love what I do, and I know that we have a tough job, but I try to do it with a smile on my face,” she says.
One of her students echoed her sentiment, once telling her: “I love that you always have a smile on your face no matter what’s happening in the classroom.”
Serrano was destined to become a teacher as she had always worked with children, mentored with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and worked at a play center. While she attended Manchester High School, Serrano’s mentor told her that he recognized that she had a love for singing, theater and writing but recommended that whatever she decided to do to make sure that working with children would be a part of it.
And she listened to that advice. What followed? An incredible career filled with achievements. Now a third-grade teacher in Newington Public Schools, Serrano was named Teacher of the Year in 2025/2026 and is currently one of three finalists for the State of Connecticut Teacher of the Year!
In 2024, Serrano self-published a “Learn from Your Heart” children’s book series that focus on social-emotional learning. These books contain extremely important messages for children—always choose to be kind, don’t forget to be mindful and most importantly, make sure that everyone feels accepted and that he or she belongs. The themes that run through Serrano’s children’s books are: being empathetic and kind, accepting yourself and others and taking care of yourself.
These educational books can be found on Amazon and at local libraries like Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington and Rockville Public Library, in Vernon. The main characters are all inspired by real students that she has taught over the years. Serrano has found that eight years old is the perfect age for the lessons she writes about in her books.
“It’s the last year to really reach them as they transition from the self-centered perspective of early childhood into a more sophisticated understanding of the social world,” she explained.
Mindful Mason is the first book in the series. Title character Mindful Mason is a hero to young readers because “he is happy with what he has, he understands he needs to slow down, take it all in and celebrate the things he loves,” shared Serrano.
Empathetic Emma is the second book in Serrano’s series. Emma always shows kindness and has empathy for others.
The third book in the series, Accepting Ace, teaches readers how to accept people who are on the autism spectrum. Serrano tells us, “Ace and his fearless friends help others accept people who are different and teach children to accept themselves.” Serrano affectionately refers to her books as her “love letters to her students.”
Because Serrano is only eight years from closing the chapter on teaching and moving into retirement, she is actively building her children’s book business by doing author visits at elementary schools and libraries. Her visits focus on her love for reading and writing, her writing process, and how to get ideas if you are stuck. Her library program titled “Mindful Mandalas with Mason” is interactive and fun. Serrano also participates in Literacy Nights in Newington and sells her books at various events.
In addition to her 10-year-old stepdaughter, Serrano considers her former students a part of her extended family of “children”—who still play a part in her life. She’s even attended their weddings and baby showers!
In her spare time, Serrano and her husband like to travel internationally. Over the past few years, they have visited Italy, Spain, Aruba and Jamaica. Greece is next up on the wish list. Serrano also likes solving puzzles and word games and not surprisingly she says, “reading is my happy place.”
If you would like to book Serrano for a reading program or order one of her books, email her at aserrano@npsct.org.