J. B. Frank

Loretta Caravette (born October 1, 1956), known by her pen name J.B. Frank, is an American television producer, literary agent, and children's author.

Early life

Frank was born in Chicago, Illinois. She was the third of fourteen siblings and grew up in a small bungalow on the city's Northwest Side. Encouraged by her father, who organized summer contests in storytelling and poetry, she developed a love for writing at a young age. One of these contests led her to write a story about an alien, earning her a pen as a prize, an experience she later credited as the spark for her passion for storytelling.

She earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University.

Career

Frank spent over two decades working in television production, specializing in children's programming and documentaries. She produced various programs, including Ruth Page, Once Upon a Dancer, for which she won an Emmy Award. She also received a CINE Award for producing the ABC Afterschool Special Love Hurts and was nominated for a National Emmy for the music program Rhythm and Jam.

After her television career, Frank transitioned into the publishing industry. She co-founded Sadler-Caravette Children's Literary, an agency representing children's book authors and illustrators. She later founded LR Children's Literary, focusing on middle-grade fiction, early readers, and picture books. Her interests include historical fiction and humor in children's literature.

Her published books include:

• Somewhere in the City – A bedtime story that explores the sights and sounds of urban life.
• Down on the Funny Farm – A humorous tale featuring farm animals and their adventures.
• Count on Me 1 2 3 – A colorful board book introducing children to counting through everyday heroes.

Other work

Caravette is a co-founder of the Zoo & Aquarium Video Archive, an organization dedicated to documenting the history of professionals in the zoo and aquarium industry.