Local Author Wins National Moonbeam Award for Children’s Book

by Anthony Ozdemir, Staff Writer

Sarah reads her book at Lake Anne. Photo contributed by Sarah Carpenter

It’s not often that an author wins a national award with their first published work, but this past October, Reston’s own Sarah Carpenter did just that. Her interactive children’s book of poems and short stories, “Beware of the Jornsnout,” won the 2025 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the Children’s Poetry category. The recognition was meaningful, but for Carpenter, the journey—and the community that supported it—matters just as much.

A few years ago, Carpenter decided she wanted to try something new. She committed to writing every day for a month and enlisted her children as her most honest—and toughest—editors. “So for 30 days, I just wrote something every single day, and to do that, you have to be mindful and present and look for opportunities to capture special moments,” she said. “At the end of the day, the kids would be my really tough editors. And that's how it started.”

That daily practice, combined with time spent listening to her own kids and others in the Reston community, sparked the idea for her book. She noticed that children see the world with a kind of clarity and creativity adults often lose. “I just mindfully watched my kids and the kids in my neighborhood and listened to their conversations,” she said. “Kids will notice things adults never do. They’ll say sentences that have never been said in the history of humankind. Their perspective is so beautiful and fresh, so present. Really, what I did was take the things they noticed, give it a framework, give it words and art, and give it back to them.”

From that inspiration came Arnie, the misunderstood, pizza-loving, “fearsome and terrifying” Jornsnout. Carpenter says Arnie’s story carries a simple message: “When you're scared of something, you just need to learn about it more. You can miss out on a really good friendship if you just go off what people say.”

“Beware of the Jornsnout” eventually grew into a collection of 56 poems and short stories, filled with memorable characters and interactive prompts that invite readers to participate in the adventure.

“The biggest feedback I get from families is that they really appreciate the little questions,” Carpenter said. “Before you know it, you’ve learned something about your kid you hadn’t known before. It’s so easy just to sit next to each other and read and feel like you’ve connected.”

Carpenter helped spread Jornsnout’s legend by setting up a booth at the Reston Farmers Market, where she read poems, talked with children about creative writing, and encouraged them to explore their own imaginations. The experience was meaningful not only for the kids and their families, but for her as well.

“That’s how I knew the experience—not just the book—was special,” she said. “Connecting with kids, helping them love reading, encouraging them to move from observer to artist. All of a sudden, you’re an author; all of a sudden you’re an illustrator.”

Carpenter plans to return to the market when it reopens. Her gratitude for the community, she says, is as deep as her pride in the award. “I have overwhelming gratitude for the families in Reston who have bought the book at the market, sat with me, and been so supportive,” she said. “I can’t express my thanks enough for the kind words and for lending their kids to me for a few minutes so we could have fun together. This award is like the icing on the cake of a really beautiful experience.”

To buy a copy of “Beware of the Jornsnout” or learn more about Sarah Carpenter, visit www.bewareofthejornsnout.com/