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.
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.
Take a Peek Inside
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
