Karen Sanders-Betts and Hannah Howerton are a mother and daughter who share a love for lattes, live theater, and bringing laughter to life’s seemingly ordinary moments. Karen received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in English from the University of Central Missouri, and Hannah received her bachelor’s degree in political science and minor in history of art from UC Berkeley. Together they created The Little Lemon that Leapt, a quirky children’s book that encourages kids to embrace what makes them (and the rest of this mesmerizing world) weird.

It all began with a sentence in Karen’s notebook: the little lemon leapt without fear. From that, Karen and Hannah chose to leap together, combining their dreams into one reality. The story itself is imaginative, quirky, and fun; a little lemon who thinks he is normal leaps from his tree, only to discover the whole world is weird and so is he. The alliteration and illustrations alone make the story a must have for every child’s bookshelf, but the underlying message of embracing differences in yourself and in others is what sets The Little Lemon that Leapt apart from the rest.

The message was inspired by Karen’s father, Lionel, who filled her childhood with daily lessons of acceptance. His legacy lives on through Lionel the Lemon. When Karen and Hannah started their business, they set out to make a difference in even just one child’s life. After hearing feedback from countless parents and teachers, it is clear they have surpassed their goal. This isn’t just about a book. It is about a movement to raise a generation of children who are full of compassion and empathy, and who choose to celebrate what makes them WEIRD! #ichooseweird