Fear not, Pittsburgh! Della + Lila are here to save us from all the secrets hiding within the Mighty Monongahela. This dynamic sister-duo has fought river monsters, found buried treasures, and made friends with the Mon Mermaids all the while bringing joy and smiles to children in the area.
Della + Lila is a Pittsburgh-based children’s book written by and about two local sisters. One evening around the dinner table, imaginative Della (age 5) started telling a fantastical tale about befriending and helping a river mermaid. Her mother, Brianne Mitchell, quickly grabbed her laptop to ensure that she didn’t miss one single detail about their troubled mermaid friend. They partnered with Sian Bowman for their illustrations and then Della + Lila Meet the Monongahela Mermaid was born!
After great success with their first story, Lila jumped in to help create Della + Lila and the Treasure Adventure. The two sisters are back on the river in a swashbuckling journey searching for treasure with pirates after they find their mother’s treasure map. The sisters navigate southwestern Pennsylvania’s significance in the French and Indian War. In addition to many exciting and new characters, you will also meet a cast of storied, historical figures including George Washington, General Edward Braddock, and Daniel Boone. In the latest installment, Della + Lila and the Monongahela Monster, the pair meets Pittsburgh’s fabled river monster while learning a little more about friendship, love, and compassion.
The most common theme amongst all three stories is the importance of kindness and caring for the environment. That’s why this dynamic family created the non-profit organization “River Fund” to help raise funds to help restore Pittsburgh rivers. 100% of the profits from the Della + Lila series is put back into the non-profit organization. The River Fund provides educational and enrichment opportunities for children in southwestern PA. The River Fund also contributes to holiday gift drives, back-to-school supply drives, coat drives, and other charitable organizations that help children and families both in SWPA and all over the world.
The Della + Lila series can be found on their website, at Barnes + Nobles and Walmart online, and at local stores Flowers by Regina and Market Street Emporium.
