Louisa Learns to Write

Louisa May Alcott Creates Little Women

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Calkins Creek

(Astra Books for Young Readers)

(pub. 1.20.2026)

40 pages

Ages 7 -1o

Author: Kate Hannigan

   Illustrator: Sofia Moore

Character: Louisa May Alcott

Overview:

" Louisa May Alcott wrote the beloved classic Little Women, but she started out as just a little girl scribbling in her journal.

Born into the middle of a spirited, creative group of sisters, Louisa was always up for exploration, play, dreaming, and creating—the traits that would one day make her a writer. Even when times were hard, Louisa’s family held each other close and persevered. So when Louisa dared to write a novel, she wrote about the thing that mattered most to her—family! The four Alcott sisters became the four March sisters in the smashing hit novel Little Women."

Tantalizing taste:

"Over ten quick weeks, she wrote from her heart, tapping the skills she'd developed and all she remembered of growing up. Especially how it felt to be a girl with big dreams.

And something more: Kate Hannigan shared in the Author's Note: "Touching on universal themes of love, grief, struggle, and independence, Little Women was one of the first books to shine a light on the lives of ordinary girls - flaws and all. It's inspired countless women to become writers and remains a treasured exploration of childhood, and growing up."