Books

Lizzy is Busy

Lively Little Sloth Stories: Book One

Available in paperback, hardcover and ebook!

Buy in Australia here.

Buy Internationally here.

Lizzy is Busy is the first book in the Lively Little Sloth Stories series, and the first of many collaborations between author Marlee Jean and illustrator Emily Heasman. These two Brisbane-based creatives have teamed up to bring Lizzy and her world to life for Marlee’s son and other children like him.

This 32-page award-winning hardcover picture book is aimed at children aged 3-7 years old.

Lizzy is Busy was chosen as a winner of the Golden Wizard Book Prize, a prestigious children’s book awards program recognising only the best children’s literature worldwide.

“I absolutely loved this book! As the parent of a neurodivergent child, I found it to be one of the most informative children’s books on the subject that I’ve ever read.
Not only is it beautifully written, but it describes my daughter so well that I felt like the author knew her personally. I couldn’t wait to share this book with her so she could see herself in Lizzie and feel understood and empowered.

The main character is very endearing and I have no doubt children will want to read all about her again and again. As a result, it will help others better comprehend neurodivergent children and be more accommodating of their needs.
Paired with rhyming prose that flowed smoothly throughout the entirety, it was altogether a book that blew me away with its brilliance, and one that I feel should be in every school and home worldwide!”

— Louise Jane, CEO of The Golden Wizard Book Prize

Lizzy is Busy has received the Readers’ Favourite stamp of approval with their 5 star editorial review.

“Lizzy is Busy is a children’s story written by Marlee Jean and illustrated by Emily Heasman. Lizzy is a young sloth whose mind is always busy. While most sloths love to spend their days sleeping, Lizzy has far too much going on inside her mind to sleep. Her body constantly wants to dance, sing, and move. Lizzy also excels at encouraging her friends to always be their very best. With so much energy, Lizzy sometimes speaks before she has been asked to do so. Sounds, change, and touch can sometimes overwhelm Lizzy. Even when she has done her very best at a task, there are times when she feels like this is not enough and she breaks down. Those are the times when being alone is much more calming than being with others. Deep breaths help. Lizzy’s talents allow her to disappear inside her own world while expressing herself with art and toys.

Lizzy certainly is a busy little sloth! Marlee Jean takes us on a visual tour into the world of people wired differently than most. With so much going on inside her head, Lizzy sees the world differently and processes what she sees in her own way. So many people assume that if somebody does not react the way we expect them to, they must be rude or broken, but instead of judging that person, try to see the world from their perspective. As a Deaf woman, I am often yelled at for my rudeness or stupidity, when the truth is that I simply didn’t hear what was happening in the world around me. While I am not Lizzy, I can fully empathize with her differences in processing the world around her. Each one of us has our own way of reacting to different things, and I am thankful to Marlee Jean and Emily Heasman for introducing us to Lizzy’s world. I wholeheartedly recommend Lizzy is Busy to all young readers aged between 5 and 12 years, so children can learn at a young age that we are all different, which does not make us any less important than the rest of the world.”

— Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favourite

I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal people, the traditional custodians of Meanjin, the land on which I live and write.
I recognise their continuing connection to land, water and culture.
I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging.