Update - Winner Announced! Celebrate Summer Reading & Fun with Anne Renaud!

7/15: Congrats to Seschipper on winning Anne's book giveaway! We'll be in touch soon with more details.

A special thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate Summer Reading & Fun!

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6/22

Hi, readers, writers, and popsicle lovers of all sorts! We're here celebrating another day of Summer Reading and fun with the prolific author of over 30 books, Anne Renaud. She's here sharing her cool and fun book, The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle! Frank William Epperson, a curious boy who loves inventing, begins with experimenting in his “laboratory” (i.e., his back porch) trying out his ideas. When he invents a yummy flavored soda water drink, his friends love it! And this gets him thinking: “I wonder what this drink would taste like frozen?” Want to know more about Anne, her fun & true book, PLUS want a chance to win a super sweet treat - a book giveaway? Read on...

Q: Hi! We’re so excited to feature you today for our Summer Fun Event! The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle: The Cool Science Behind Frank Epperson's Famous Frozen Treat is the perfect book to inspire sweet summer memories. How did you come across this inspiring tale?

A: I’m so excited to be part of your Summer Fun Event—thank you for having me!

So, how did I come across the story of Frank Epperson and his famous frozen treat? Well, it actually dates back to the early days of my writing career. Before I ever published a book, I wrote extensively for children’s magazines. In fact, I credit those magazines with keeping me from giving up on writing altogether! My first book wasn’t published until 2004, and by that time, I had collected enough rejection letters to wallpaper a small room. (Not that I actually did—but I could have!)

Anyway, during that period, I wrote an article about Frank Epperson and his accidental invention of the Popsicle—though, to be honest, I forget where I first read about it. I also wrote about the invention of the potato chip (which later inspired my book Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament) and the invention of cotton candy.

See a pattern here? I clearly have a soft spot for quirky food inventions with fun backstories. But I digress...

Years later, while on the hunt for new picture book biography ideas, I stumbled upon that old article on Frank and thought—maybe this could make a picture book! So I dove back into the research, fleshed out the story, and that’s how the book came to be.

The story was ultimately paired with Milan Pavlović’s colourful and engaging illustrations and published by Kids Can Press. His artwork brought the story to life with such energy and charm—it was the perfect match for a book about one of summer’s sweetest treats!

Q: We love that this book celebrates STEM in the form of a little boy with a laboratory, doing experiments and that they are woven into the story! Were you intrigued with science as a child, or were you a late blooming science enthusiast. Why or why not? If so, how did you draw upon that for this topic. 

A:  I love that you picked up on the STEM thread in the book—it was such a fun challenge to weave in. Truthfully, as a kid, I wasn’t particularly drawn to science at school (sorry to all my science teachers!), but I did like doing experiments at home. I may not have realized it then, but I was totally engaging with science in my own way. The real credit for the STEM component in the book goes to my editor at Kids Can Press. It was her brilliant idea to incorporate science experiments directly into the story. Once she suggested it, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work figuring out which simple, kid-friendly experiments could naturally tie into the story of Frank Epperson and his icy invention.

I learned so many science facts while writing this book and, in a way, it helped me rediscover science from a new angle—one that celebrates wonder and play. I like to think that little-kid me, vinegar in one hand and food coloring in the other, would’ve been very into this book!

Q: Did you love popsicles as a child? Now? Share a summer fun memory surrounding a popsicle. If you drew upon this memory, show how you incorporated it into the book.  

A: Who doesn’t love Popsicles! I’ve adored them since I was a kid—especially those double-stick ones that you could split down the middle and share with a friend. There’s something endearing about a treat that’s meant for two. Frank Epperson may have invented the original frozen treat with just one stick but, to my knowledge, during the Great Depression, “double-stick Popsicles” were created so kids and adults alike, could share one pop for the price of one. It made summer sweetness a little more accessible—and a lot more memorable. I love that the very idea of sharing was built right into the Popsicle’s design.

Q:  Please share a little bit about the research process for this book, both scientifically and historical. 

 A:  When writing a picture book biography, it’s not just about getting the facts right; it’s about capturing the heart of the person I’m writing about. That’s why it’s so important to have permission and buy-in from the family. When I set out to write this story, I was incredibly lucky to connect with several descendants of Frank Epperson through Ancestry. They were wonderfully generous, sharing personal memories, old photographs, and even written documentation that brought Frank’s world to life. Their insight added so much depth and authenticity to the narrative—I truly couldn’t have written the book without them.

On the historical side, I also dug into everything from early 20th-century advertisements to Frank’s patent filings. And scientifically? Let’s just say I now know more about the freezing point of flavored sugar water than I ever expected! I wanted to make sure every detail was accurate and age appropriate. So, I reached out to several science teachers, who reviewed the manuscript and helped validate the information. I learned so much through that process (who knew the science of frozen treats could be so fascinating?). 

There was also an important legal component to the research. Since "Popsicle" is a registered trademark, I needed to get official permission from Unilever, the company that owns the brand today. They were very accommodating and supportive of the project, which was such a relief!

Q:  What’s one question you wish we would’ve asked you about you, your books, your writing/illustrating process, etc.?

 A: Ooh, I love this question! I wish you’d asked: “What does your writing process actually look like?” Because honestly—it's all over the place! I don't sit down and write every single day (though I admire those who do), but I do engage with something related to writing every day. That might mean diving into research on a new topic, editing a manuscript that’s been simmering for a while, or scrolling through illustration portfolios to help my publisher find the perfect artist match for a picture book.

And when I am writing, one of the most important parts of my process doesn’t even happen at my desk—it happens on my feet. Walking is my secret weapon. There’s something about moving through the world—hearing birdsong, admiring nature, or just letting the breeze hit my face—that clears the clutter in my head and opens up space for ideas to flow. Some of my best lines, titles, or story twists have arrived mid-walk. So yes, my process is a little scattered, but it’s always in motion—just like a good story.

BONUS QUESTION: What do you love most about summer?

There’s nothing better than stepping outside into the sunshine, slipping on sandals and a single layer, and being ready to go in seconds. After months of bundling up in endless layers and braving the freezing cold Quebec winters, summer feels like pure magic—warm, bright, and full of easy joy.

Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

I'd love to offer BOTH!

Tip: Rejection is a HUGE part of the writing adventure — every writer faces it! Think of it like a stepping stone, not a roadblock. Each “no” gets you one step closer to that “yes.” So, keep going, keep writing, and don’t give up — your story deserves to be told!

Treat: I’d be happy to donate a signed copy of my Popsicle book (or any other of my books) and send it anywhere in the US or Canada! Just a heads-up — Canada Post has been hinting at a possible strike, so the winner may need to exercise a little patience while their prize makes its way through the mail.

Thanks so much for such a generous tip & treat! We couldn’t agree more. And thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your fascinating story with us, Anne. We truly enjoyed it!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win Anne's amazing book giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by! Feel free to share your favorite flavor of popsicle, too.

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 7/11!

Books will be shipped in the US & Canada only.

About Anne Renaud:

Anne Renaud is a children’s author who writes in both French and English. Her more than 30 publications feature picture books for kids aged 4 to 8, as well as historical non-fiction books for 9- to 12-year-olds. Her titles include: The Boy who Invented the Popsicle: The Cool Science Behind Frank Epperson's Famous Frozen Treat, Albertine Petit-Brindamour déteste les choux de Bruxelles, which won the OLA’S Prix Peuplier and the Prix des libraires du Québec, and Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament, which won the QWF’s Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Anne is also a regular contributor to children’s magazines. She lives and writes in Westmount, Quebec 

For more about Anne, check out the below links:

IG: Anne Renaud (@renaud5276) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064131728787

To purchase Anne's books on Amazon, or to leave a review for them, click here.

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