Oct 154 min read

Trick or Treat with Jen Arena!

Hi, readers, writers, and little monsters, too! Today, we have the lovely Jen Arena joining us, author of over 50 books for kids! Jen is here sharing her newest board books, Dracula's First Tooth and Jekyll's Bad Mood, perfect titles to sink your teeth into this season. Both books, part of the Little Monsters Milestones series, deal with firsts related to kids in a fun and accessible way, including first teeth and temper tantrums. Want to know more about Jen Arena, her adorable new books, PLUS want to know if she's offering a trick or a treat? Read on if you dare...

Q: Hi, Jen! Thanks so much for Trick-or-Treating with #SeasonsOfKidLit. We’re thrilled to host you and hear all about your adorably spooky books. Can you share a little bit about your writing journey and path to receiving your first yes?

A: I kind of fell into writing in a backward way. When I got my first job in publishing as an editorial assistant at a children’s publisher, I found out that, in addition to typing and sorting and organizing, I’d have to write simple manuscripts as part of my job. I’d always been a reader, never really a writer. Thanks to my boss, though, I discovered that I loved writing, too. She gave me small writing assignments, and one day, I pitched her a nonfiction project that I’d thought of myself. When she said yes, it was an amazing feeling, like I finally had arrived as a real writer. That book, Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather, is still in print!

Q: Your board books Dracula’s First Tooth and Jekyll’s Bad Mood are part of the Little Monsters Milestone series. What a cool and fun way to present kids with milestones they can expect. Can you share more about each book and what inspired the idea for the series?

A: Thank you! These board books feature baby versions of classic monsters dealing with early childhood milestones in a funny way. Dracula’s First Tooth is about teething. Poor Dracula keeps gnawing on his crib or his cape, trying to sooth his sore gums. Jekyll’s Bad Mood is about temper tantrums. The normally sweet Jekyll becomes a little monster when he doesn’t get his way and his unruly Hyde side comes out.

Q: I absolutely love this idea! It's clever for kids and the art is amazing. How did you like working with Betowers, illustrator of the Little Monsters Milestones series? Can you share some spreads with us?

A: We were so lucky to get Betowers to create the art for these Little Monsters Milestones books. She called it her dream project!

Q: You are the author of over 50 books! HUGE congrats - what an accomplishment! How does writing board books differ from writing picture books? What can our readers keep in mind when setting out to switch from board book to picture book writing (or vice versa)?

A: Board books are so much fun to write! For picture books, I’m always bumping up against my word count, because there’s so much I want to say, but for some reason, that doesn’t happen as much with board books, even though they usually have fewer words. For Dracula and Jekyll, the characters already existed and were familiar to readers so I got to play with what was already there, like Dracula turning into a bat and having fangs. With picture books, I know I need to think more about character, setting, and plot, in addition to voice and rhythm.

Q: What makes this series perfect for any time of the year? What other fall or seasonal books of yours can we check out ASAP?

A: New teeth and temper tantrums don’t only happen around Halloween! Although they make perfect trick-or-treat presents, these books also work at any time of the year, any time kids are hitting those milestones. Dracula’s First Tooth even has a snow scene!

My picture book called Acorn Was a Little Wild, illustrated by Jessica Gibson, is another great read for fall. It’s about an adventurous little acorn who’s first to jump off the oak tree. I love Acorn’s attitude—he cheerfully rolls along with all the ups and downs of life and sees the positive side in everything.

Bonus question: What’s your favorite Halloween Candy? OR What was your favorite costume as a kid?

A: I loved my cowgirl costume so much when I was little that I wore it for about three years in a row. The skirt kept getting shorter and shorter and the vest tighter and tighter, but at least the hat still fit!

Thanks again for joining us, Jen! It was a pleasure having you!

Q: Would you like to leave a Trick or a Treat for our readers?

A: A TREAT! I'd like to offer one reader a chance to connect and ask me anything! We’ll hop on the phone for a 30-minute call and you can pick my brain (a very Halloweeny thing to do!) with questions about writing, editing, or publishing.

Wow, thanks for such a monster-iffic treat!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win this cool treat 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Jen for stopping by! Dracula and Monster GIFs are totally appreciated, too.

Winners for the Trick-or-Treat event will be drawn on or about 10/22!

*Books will be shipped in the US only.*

Note: Those who leave a comment on all posts will be eligible to win one (1) of ten (5) Rate Your Story Speed Passes, perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Agent Mentee Lynne Marie & Author Heather Macht.

About Jen Arena:

Jen Arena is lucky to have been surrounded by great children’s books her whole life. As a teenager, she worked at a children’s-only independent bookstore in Pennsylvania, and after graduating from college, she made her way to New York City, where she found a job in children's book publishing, working as an editor for Putnam, Golden Books, and Random House. She’s now a full-time author and freelance editor and has written many books for kids, including Acorn Was a Little Wild, Besos for Baby, and Marta! Big and Small. Jen lives in Tampa, Florida.