In 1927, pioneering children's book editor Helen Dean Fish suggested that Lenski should try writing and illustrating her own stories. She originally wrote her first book, "Skipping Village", as poetry, changing it to prose at the request of her editor. Decades later, she would return to writing poetry and song lyrics. In 1932 Lenski published "The Little Family", an innovative picture book which was the first such book sized to fit small children's hands (the current edition of the book measures 5 x 5.8 inches).