Lisl H.

Detlefsen

Picture Book Writer

Award Winning Author

Travels from: Wisconsin Rapids, WI

“An enlightening, joyful celebration of a little-explored agricultural endeavor.” — Kirkus Reviews

Lisl H. Detlefsen is the author of a growing number of picture books. Her first, TIME FOR CRANBERRIES (Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press, illustrated by Jed Henry) was a Junior Library Guild selection, a 2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (K–2), and the 2017 Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Book of the Year.

IF YOU HAD A JETPACK (Penguin Random House/Knopf, illustrated by Linzie Hunter) was a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next pick, an ALA LITA 2019 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Picture Book and listed on the 2019 Edition of the Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year.

Other titles include: RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE (Feeding Minds Press, illustrated by Renée Kurilla), the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s 2019 Book of the Year; 1, 2, 3, JUMP!, a humorous book about swimming lessons (Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press, illustrated by Madeline Valentine); CATKWONDO (Capstone, illustrated by Erin Hunting), in which Kitten persistently practices taekwondo; ON THE GO AWESOME (Penguin Random House/Knopf, illustrated by Robert Neubecker) a book for vehicle-lovers which was a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year choice, and FARM BOOTS (March 2023, Feeding Minds Press, illustrated by Renée Kurilla), a lyrical celebration of work and play on a variety of farms throughout the four seasons.

Lisl’s newest titles include: AT THE END OF THE DAY (Penguin Random House/Knopf, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao), a free-verse story about how even a day filled with frustration can end with love and the promise of tomorrow, STILL THERE WAS BREAD (HarperCollins, illust. by David Soman), in which Nana and Little Pickle make a treasured recipe and discuss how the bread has sustained their family through good times and bad, and EACH DAY IS A GIFT (Beaming Books, illustrated by Natalia Vasilica), an explorative meditation on how each day brings a gift we can choose how to use.

Lisl lives on a family-owned cranberry marsh in a restored farmhouse near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, and two cats.

Lisl H.'s Featured Titles

Each Day Is a Gift

Beaming Books |

November 19, 2024

Children’s

With a yawn and a stretch, another day is delivered to you.

Each day brings the possibility of new gifts. We welcome some gifts with delight. Others are the kind we’d rather return. Lyrical and explorative, Each Day Is a Gift gently reveals how gifts’ purposes are not always clear immediately, and while we can’t choose what gifts we receive, we can choose how to use them.

Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Social & Emotional Development

Still There Was Bread

HarperCollins |

October 15, 2024

Children’s

A joyful, lyrical picture book celebration of a treasured family recipe and the traditions that nourish us, body and spirit—and a delicious reminder that warm, fresh-baked food feels like a hug when you really need one—from acclaimed author Lisl H. Detlefsen and the bestselling illustrator of Ladybug Girl, David Soman.

Perfect for family sharing and readers who love Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco!

Nana is coming to visit! She’s going to teach Little Pickle to make her famous “Nana rolls”—a special bread recipe that Nana’s nana taught her. Together, they gather ingredients: eggs and milk, flour and oil, sugar and salt, yeast and water.

As they mix them together to form the dough, Nana shares stories about how making this treasured family recipe has changed over the years—and how it’s sustained their family through good times and hard ones. And through the times when they could be together—and the times when they couldn’t. Because sometimes a simple loaf of bread can mean so much more.

Food & Culinary, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Parenting & Families

At the End of the Day

Knopf Books for Young Readers |

April 23, 2024

Children’s

A pitch-perfect story about a busy, exhausted, and loving family dealing with one obstacle after another in the run-up to bedtime, in the spirit of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

At the end of a long day, sometimes it feels as if time will keep stretching endlessly. There are errands to run, homework to do, and toys to be put away. Sometimes it’s windy, and stormy, or downright boring. But . . . sometimes, with a little patience, the end of the day can be warm and cozy, surprising and exciting, and just right—filled with reasons to be grateful for the day you’ve had, and to look forward to tomorrow, too.

Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Why Books About Ag Matter

We all need to eat, so don’t we need books about our food and where it comes from? This talk can be tailored toward student OR adult audiences and discusses agricultural literacy, including why books about ag matter and the current problems of existing books about ag for children, including inaccuracies and outdated information, harmful stereotypes, and former favorites that have gone out of print. The audience will leave with a new understanding and appreciation for how we all need to know where our food comes from, how it’s grown and harvested, and the lives of the people who make our meals possible. Examples are shown, and Lisl draws upon her own life as a kid who grew up outside of the world of ag and now proudly lives on a fifth-generation, family-owned cranberry farm. The program ends with plenty of time for Lisl’s favorite part: Q&A with the audience!

Time for Cranberries

This talk is best for students in grades 3 through 8 and covers cranberry facts, photos of harvest and equipment, the demonstration of tools such as hip boots and hand rakes (depending on location!) and can include an optional add-on writing workshop about writing from your life experiences. Students will leave with an appreciation for where their food comes from and the story of agriculture. The writing exercise will cover coming up with ideas, the many ways to tell a story through elements like point of view and tense, and the freedoms and limitations of writing from life experiences, be it as fiction or non-fiction.

All programs are customizable to the audience and include a reading, presentation with photos that describe Lisl’s life as an author living on a family cranberry farm, the sharing of Lisl’s very first stories–written and illustrated by her in first grade!–and plenty of time for her favorite part: Q&A with students and staff!

Awesome Parts of Speech

This talk is best for grades 2-4 and uses Lisl’s books IF YOU HAD A JETPACK and ON THE GO AWESOME for a fun program featuring parts of speech with a particular focus on adverbs and adjectives and their use in these titles.

Farm Boots Fun

Adaptable for any elementary-age grades and even middle schoolers, this talk uses FARM BOOTS to discuss the publication process from both Lisl’s perspective and illustrator Renée Kurilla’s perspective, sharing early drafts and a variety of cover options that were discussed before the final, published book. For grades 3 and up, this program can include an optional, poetry-focused mini writing workshop focused around the ABCB rhyme scheme used in FARM BOOTS.

SEL workshop with 1, 2, 3, JUMP!, CATKWONDO or AT THE END OF THE DAY

Adaptable for any elementary-age grades, this program can use either 1, 2, 3, JUMP!, CATKWONDO or AT THE END OF THE DAY to discuss social emotional themes such as trying new things, conquering fears, empathy, misunderstandings, and/or perseverance.

Still There Are Stories

In this talk, the audience will be challenged to become “Storytelling Detectives” and investigate family stories and history through favorite foods and treasured recipes. It focuses on Lisl’s book STILL THERE WAS BREAD, which traces her Great-Grandma’s recipe for “Nana rolls” through both times of celebration and struggle, including the Great Depression, the polio epidemic, and COVID-19. This program is especially great for students in grades 3 through 6 or for family literacy events. It can be adapted to include an add-on writing workshop.

”Thank you for inspiring young authors at our school, taking the time to visit with children and staff, plus having a professional and fun way of engaging with everyone. For schools, libraries, or other venues that are interested in hosting an author visit, I highly recommend asking author Lisl Detlefsen. Her adventurous books, If You Had a Jetpack, 1-2-3 Jump!, Time for Cranberries, and Right This Very Minute, help provide an uplifting, energetic, thoughtful, and rewarding learning experience for students, that positively affects their own image as writers.” — Crystal Booth, Intervention Specialist, Oaklawn Elementary

“Mrs. Detlefsen’s visit to our K-8 school was a great success. She delighted our younger students with her book, Time for Cranberries, and stories of life on a cranberry marsh. She wowed our middle school students with her writing journey, demonstrating how perseverance and practice pay off. Incorporating a quick and fun hands-on writing activity for our middle school students revealed the creativity we all have within. If you’re looking for a speaker to promote the power of reading and writing, then it is time for Lisl Detlefsen to visit your school!” — Therese Conway, Librarian, Queen of the Apostles School

“Lisl, you did an outstanding job! All the students and staff were very impressed. The kids were interested and motivated. Your message was clear and inspiring!” — Ann Marshall, LMC Innovative Specialist, Madison Elementary School

“As an ELL teacher, I also especially appreciate the use of realia to help students better understand the specific “tools of the trade”. The pictures/visuals in your presentation helped clarify the ideas you were speaking to. Your presentation was still accessible to our students who are less proficient in their English skills and it was evident how much the students connected with you. You would be welcomed back anytime!” — Heather Sullivan, ELL Grades 3-5, Madison Elementary School

Lisl’s Lesson Plans, Links and Activities for Home and the Classroom

Lisl’s Newsletter Link

All the Things We Should’ve Said Podcast Link

Bonus Content Videos Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

TIME FOR CRANBERRIES
JLG Selection
2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People K-2
2017 Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Book of the Year

IF YOU HAD A JETPACK
Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next pick
ALA LITA 2019 Excellence in Science Fiction Notable Picture Book
Listed in 2019 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year

RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE
2019 American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s Book of the Year
Included in 2020 CCBC Choices
Junior Master Gardener Growing Good Kids Award

ON THE GO AWESOME
Listed in 2021 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year

FARM BOOTS:
Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Winner
2024 Children’s Book Council Favorite for K-2nd grade
Gold winner of the 2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Picture Books for ages 0-3

At THE END OF THE DAY
JLG selection