Successful Brand Building for Children’s Books | Elizabeth Retter

Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson · Apr 7, 2026 · 28m

How does a children’s book character grow beyond the page and into a bigger brand?

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning Elizabeth Retter, creator of the beloved Easton series, to talk about brand expansion, animation, stuffed toys, school visits, and the heart behind her mission.

Elizabeth shares how Easton’s children's books grew into a plush toy, how she used AI to create animation, why consistency matters when creating author products, and how her work with rescue animals continues to shape her stories. We also talk about what authors really need to know about building a…