Meet Liesel — Veronica’s daughter, and the most wonderfully naive character in the Veronica’s World children’s book series.

She means well. She really does. She’s just very, very new to all of this.

Liesel is a calf — Veronica’s own daughter — and she has arrived in the world with wide eyes, an open heart, and an endearing lack of awareness about how most things actually work. She isn’t silly. She’s just young. Beautifully, completely, hilariously young.

Who is Liesel?

Liesel is Veronica’s daughter, which means she has inherited her mother’s curiosity but not yet her mother’s wisdom. She sees the world as a place of endless wonder and zero danger, which makes her absolutely delightful to be around and occasionally very difficult to keep track of.

She asks questions constantly. She wanders off regularly. She takes everything at face value, believes everyone is telling the truth, and approaches every new situation with the kind of innocent confidence that only comes from not yet knowing what can go wrong.

Liesel and Veronica — a mother and daughter like no other

One of the warmest threads running through the Veronica’s World children’s book series is the relationship between Veronica and Liesel. Veronica is clever, thoughtful, and always three steps ahead. Liesel is her daughter — which means Veronica loves her completely, worries about her constantly, and occasionally has to resist the urge to explain exactly why that particular idea is not going to end well.

Because sometimes Liesel needs to find out for herself. And when she does, Veronica is always there.

What makes Liesel special?

Liesel’s naivety is not a flaw — it’s a gift. She sees things without preconceptions. She approaches people without suspicion. She believes in the best of everyone because it hasn’t yet occurred to her to do otherwise.

That kind of innocence is rare and precious. And in the hands of a writer like Jaz Hoy, it becomes something genuinely moving — a reminder of what it felt like to be truly new to the world.

5 things you’ll love about Liesel

• She takes everything completely literally, which leads to some of the funniest moments in the books.
• Her faith in other people is total and unguarded — which is both her greatest strength and her greatest challenge.
• She adores Veronica in the way that only a daughter can — with total, unquestioning devotion.
• She is always the first to try something new, because it hasn’t occurred to her to be nervous.
• And when she finally does understand something, the look on her face makes it all worthwhile.

Why Liesel matters for young readers

Children see themselves in Liesel immediately. She is where they are — new to things, still figuring out how the world works, sometimes getting it wrong, always trying. She makes it safe to be a beginner. She makes it okay not to know everything yet.

And through Liesel’s relationship with Veronica, the Veronica’s World children’s book series shows children something beautiful — that the people who love you most are not the ones who expect you to be perfect. They’re the ones who are there when you work it out.

Calf facts — because Liesel would insist

Did you know that calves are born already knowing how to walk? Within hours of arriving in the world, a calf is up on its feet and exploring. They bond with their mothers almost immediately and follow them closely for the first weeks of their lives. They are naturally curious, naturally social, and naturally trusting. In other words, Liesel is exactly what a real calf would be like. Just with slightly more dialogue.

Explore more of Veronica’s World

Liesel is just one of the wonderful characters waiting for you in the Veronica’s World children’s book series. Head to veronicacow.com/books/ to get your copies of Books 1 and 2, and join us free below to stay across everything coming next.

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