Literary Safari
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Our Team

Literary Safari develops, produces, and publishes inclusive children’s media rooted in an understanding of learning science, educational standards, narrative design, and good, old-fashioned fun! Our award-winning stories, games, and curriculum are grounded in the 4 C’s of 21st century education—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration. Whether we are developing products for our clients or tinkering in our own studio, we are committed to mindful design that celebrates diversity and global citizenship.

The 4Cs of 21st century education—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration—are guiding principles at Literary Safari. They not only define the way we work, but how we work as a team and with our clients. Creating engaging content and experiences requires a willingness to play, expertise in the science of learning, and taking risks. That is why our interdisciplinary team is made up of skilled storytellers, strategists, designers, researchers, editors, writers, and educators.

 

Sandhya Nankani
Founder and President

Sandhya is an award-winning producer, author, publishing consultant, and thought leader. Before founding Literary Safari in 2008, she ran a college learning center, operated a men’s retail family business, worked as a freelance journalist, communications strategist, blogger, and editor both in the US and overseas. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University in History, International Affairs, Media and Communications. Sandhya’s most prized possessions are her collection of children’s books—stories she read during her growing years in Ghana, India, and New Jersey—and a trunk full of journals that she has been writing in since age 12.

Read More about Sandhya

Anjali Sakhrani
Content Design

Anjali is multimedia producer with eight years of experience conceptualizing and creating diverse and inclusive content for kids. She has primarily worked on Literary Safari’s studio properties which include digital apps, graphic novels, advocacy materials, social content, and The Story Seeds Podcast. Her expertise also extends to visual design, editorial development, and  project management. Anjali has a BS in Economics from Babson College and an MA in Media Studies from The New School. She credits the Madeline books for her love of storytelling and for inciting her immense appreciation for a toasted baguette with butter.

Sarah B. Boyle
Curriculum Design

Sarah is an educator, curriculum developer, and writer living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She ​t​aught over a decade of high school English at every level. She has ​worked with Literary Safari on projects ranging from writing leveled readers to developing standards-aligned ​scope and sequences and curricula. Sarah has a BA in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College. She was a New York City Teaching Fellow and earned her Master of Arts in Urban Education. Sarah's ideal Sunday involves reading leisurely in the sunshine, baking an elaborate cake, and cooking dinner with her husband and kids.

 
 

Susan O’Connor
Children’s Literature Specialist

Susan is a librarian, writer, and educator living in Kalamazoo, MI. She has worked as a public middle school teacher, as a librarian in public libraries and at the university level, and in editorial for Scholastic. At Literary Safari, she has led bibliography, author search and author outreach projects and edited nonfiction texts. Susan has an undergraduate degree in English and visual arts from Albion College and a Master in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University. She loves tending her perennial flower garden from spring to fall and rejoices at the sight of every butterfly that stops by.

Kayla Fedeson
Project Management
        
Kayla Fedeson is a television/media producer living and working in New York City. As part of the Literary Safari team, she wears many hats. She is our project management and administrative go-to and guru! She has also worked on several  educational/children's projects since 2011, including the #ArmMeWithBooks list, and those in conjunction with Benchmark Education, Stride Learning, Pearson, and iON Future. Kayla was also an associate producer on the first season of The Story Seeds Podcast.  A proud alumnus of Syracuse University, she is a travel enthusiast, who especially enjoys practicing French and Spanish, as well as her photography. Kayla is passionate about media and the endless ways it can tell stories.

Patty McGee
Literacy & Writing Specialist

Patty is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for delightful literacy practices—including Literary Safari's app HangArt—Patty has worked alongside educators across the country, partnering to unlock the full potential of their students through innovative and practical teaching strategies (learn more about her incredible work here.) Not Your Granny’s Grammar is her third book. Patty's favorite musician is Brandi Carlile.

 
 

Jena Detore
Early Childhood

Jena is an early childhood educator and consultant with over 15 years of expertise in progressive preschool instruction, classroom design, play, and behavioral support in New York City, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. She applies her experience in Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Applied Behavior Analysis to Literary Safari’s curriculum and game design projects.  She holds a BA from The University of Vermont in Early Childhood Education and a Masters degree from Fordham University in Early Childhood Special Education. She and her husband grew up in the 90s and enjoy sharing the books, music, and movies of this era with their two daughters!

Melissa Morgenlander, Ph.D
Curriculum Design

Melissa is an educational consultant, curriculum designer, and picture book writer specializing in early childhood. Melissa comes to Literary Safari with a career spanning over 20 years collaborating with organizations committed to creating quality education tools for children like PBS Kids and codeSpark. Melissa holds a doctorate in human development from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she wrote her dissertation about math understanding from Sesame Street. In addition to her Ph.D, she holds a BA from Vassar College and an MA from NYU. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and teenage boy-girl twins.

Debra Housel
Editorial

Debra is an educational writer and editor who lives in Rochester, New York. She taught for 15 years as a literacy specialist in grades 3-12. During that time, she began creating educational materials, eventually writing or contributing to 127 titles. She has worked with Literary Safari on the development of leveled rand decodable texts. Debra holds a MSEd from Nazareth University. She is passionate about her Japanese chin, her large collection of tropical flowering plants, line dancing, and riding roller coasters.

 
 

Jahnavi Pradeep
Research & Content Development

Jahnavi Pradeep is an interdisciplinary creative and multimedia storyteller. She has a BA in English and Film Media Theater from Mount Holyoke College. At Literary Safari, she has worked in web design, editorial development, and creating curricular content. Jahnavi’s experiences extend to other engagements with media and education as well. She was a fellow for Auroville Film Institute and the University of Ladakh’s Open Space Documentary Arts program, working on projects across India. Her stints with anthropology, visual cultures, archiving modes, and new media practices have furthered her interest to continue supporting the vast potential of storytelling. When visiting new places, Jahnavi likes trying out local chocolates and preserving their wrappers as a means of documenting her travels!