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About the Book
MarlaGran – stylized book title as it appears on the cover, in bold magenta lettering

A Bilingual Adventure in Creativity, Emotion, and Self-Discovery

About the Book

MarlaGran: The Girl Who Wants to Live Creatively is the magical journey of a girl holding the question: “How does one live creatively?”

 

This bilingual (English–Spanish) children’s book invites kids to explore their emotions, imagination, and sense of self. Through storytelling and open-ended Innerscape prompts, the book invites children to draw, reflect, and express their inner world freely.

Photo of the book MarlaGran on a wooden easel, surrounded by leaves and soft colors.
A mother reading the MarlaGran book to her two young sons, sharing a playful moment of connection and storytelling.

Who It's For

MarlaGran is for curious hearts ages 5 to 105.

 

Whether you’re a child discovering your feelings, a parent nurturing emotional growth, a teacher encouraging imagination, or a therapist guiding self-expression, this book offers a creative invitation to reflect, draw, and connect from the inside out.

 

It’s also for adults ready to slow down, soften, and reconnect with their inner child—the part of us that still longs to create freely and feel deeply.

Innerscapes
~ What Kids Can Do ~

MarlaGran invites children into their Innerscapes, the emotional and imaginative world within. Each page becomes a space to draw, reflect, and express freely.

 

It’s more than a book.

It’s a creative journey of self-discovery, shaped by the child’s own hands and heart.

Illustration from MarlaGran showing colorful confetti and party banners with the phrases “Make the party” and “Crea la fiesta” from the Innerscape Party Time with the Tribe.
Blue confetti representing MarlaGran’s playful spirit

Take a Peek Inside

Pink confetti representing MarlaGran’s playful spirit
Red confetti representing MarlaGran’s playful spirit

Note on Book Format

MarlaGran is designed to open like a laptop, giving kids a wide, playful space to draw and create. In a screen-filled world, this layout invites them to think outside the box and reconnect with the magic of books through hands-on imagination.

Loved by Children, Parents & Therapists

Written testimonial by children expressing their enjoyment and engagement with MarlaGran's story..

Why I Wrote MarlaGran

Even though I wrote my first story at age six, I grew up believing I wasn’t creative. Like many of us, I internalized the idea that creativity belonged to others—artists, experts, someone else. It wasn’t until I reconnected with my creativity as an adult that the story of MarlaGran emerged.

 

As a therapist and expressive arts practitioner, I created MarlaGran to offer children what I once needed: a place to feel seen, to be curious about emotions, and to trust the beauty of their inner world.

 

This book is an invitation to imagine, to reflect, to draw, and to remember that creativity is one of our deepest ways of knowing. I hope it inspires young readers (and the child in each of us) to listen inward, play freely, and live a little more soulfully.

 

warmly,

maria

Warm, smiling self-portrait of Maria Lentzou, author of MarlaGran

About Maria Lentzou, LMFT, NTP

Maria Lentzou is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Nutritional Therapist Practitioner based in San Francisco, specializing in expressive arts, Authentic Movement, and social-emotional development in children and teens. She weaves creativity, mindfulness, and emotional exploration into her therapeutic work and her writing. MarlaGran is her first children’s book, born from a deep love for authentic self-expression and the curious spirit of childhood.

Illustration of MarlaGran dancing, as seen in the book, shown without background on a gradient blue and pink backdrop.

Get Your Copy

MarlaGran is available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook. Bilingual edition (English–Spanish).

Coming soon in audiobook, and in Greek–English and Greek–Spanish editions.

For discounted bulk purchases CONTACT us.

Imagination Station

More magic is on the way!

Explore the Creative SEL Kit (CreSEL), a set of tools for social-emotional learning that expand MarlaGran’s world and nurture emotional connection. Coming soon.

Illustration of the Rounded Animal from MarlaGran's story in a teal background looking at a yellow splash.

Want to be the first to know when the creative tools are ready?

Sign up to get updates and early access to the CreSEL Kit, which features MarlaGran's Book, the Innerscope Card Game, the Innerscape Adventure Guide, and the Creative Portfolio.

 

Let the creativity continue on and off the page.

Join the Fun

Choose all your interests

Get in Touch

For educational trainings or bulk purchases by schools, organizations, or groups, feel free to get in touch.

We’d love to hear from you and explore how MarlaGran can support your work with children.

We'd love to hear from you!

llustration from MarlaGran showing MarlaGran with her head open, looking at the reader with the prompt “What does my creative mind imagine?” from the Innerscape Creative Mind.
Colors de la Mar – collective of creators behind the bilingual book MarlaGran

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