Hannah Smith is a passionate children's book author and dedicated advocate for the celiac and food allergy communities. Through her inspiring journey and heartfelt stories, she empowers children to embrace their unique identities and teaches the importance of inclusion and compassion. The daughter of two teachers, Hannah was born and raised in Cumberland, Maryland, a small rural Appalachian town nestled amidst the picturesque mountains. At the age of sixteen, Hannah's life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with celiac disease after fighting a mystery illness for two years. This diagnosis shed light on her health struggles and provided her with clarity, enabling her to better understand and manage her condition by adopting a gluten-free diet. Driven by her desire to create positive change and foster inclusivity, Hannah embarked on a journey to write a children’s book about celiac disease. Drawing from her personal experiences and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children with celiac disease, she crafted stories that resonate with young readers around the world. In 2020, Hannah published her first book, The Silly Yak Who Had Celiac. This heartwarming story follows the story of a yak who learns to navigate life with celiac disease with knowledge, resilience, and good friends. The book quickly captured the hearts of children and families, becoming a cherished resource for those affected by celiac disease and food allergies. In 2023, she additionally published There’s A Horse Yanking My Chain, Bev The Bird, Quack, Quack, Celiac! and A Celiac Christmas. She is the founder and chairwoman of the Western Maryland Literacy Initiative, a totally volunteer-supported nonprofit that promotes literacy access through book donations and Little Free Library donations in rural Appalachian Maryland. Since its founding, Hannah has been able to donate over 30,000 books to nonprofit organizations like churches and schools through grants and the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program. In addition to her literary endeavors, Hannah became actively involved in advocating for the celiac and food allergy communities. Hannah's advocacy efforts have taken her to Capitol Hill, where she has lobbied in support of legislation such as the Allergen Disclosure in Non-food Articles Act. Her voice has helped raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with celiac disease and food allergies, and she continues to fight for greater accessibility, inclusivity, and support for these communities. In 2019, Hannah earned her BA in Communication Studies from The University of Maryland, College Park. During her senior year at the University of Maryland, she completed studies at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain and served as an Intern for the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship with ranking member US Senator Ben Cardin. Hannah is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society, the Allegany Arts Council, the Maryland Association of Writers, and the American Communication Association. Continuing her pursuit of knowledge and advocacy, Hannah is pursuing an MA degree in Communication with a dual concentration in Health Communication and Political Communication at Johns Hopkins University. You can find her on Instagram at @CopaceticCity.
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