Peacock and Sketch
Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Publication date: January 2022
This fun story about the highs and lows of media stardom is perfect for readers not yet ready for Charlotte’s Web.
A gorgeous peacock hatches an escape from the zoo in search of fame, only to realize that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be, and that instant stardom can be tough and beauty is more than feathers deep.
Peacock loves to see his friend Sketch, a girl who comes to the zoo and inks drawings of him. But life was lonely when she wasn’t around. As a free bird, his adventures attract all the attention he’d always dreamed of, adoring fans, tons of photos, and news headlines. But when he starts to molt, as peacocks do, his tail feathers fall out. His fame evaporates, and Peacock finally comes to appreciate Sketch, who’s stayed by his side from the beginning.
This story is a lighthearted exploration of the fleeting nature of social media stardom, and the importance of real-world friendships. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers about how to navigate social media with kids.
National Geographic Kids Dream Journal
Author Allan D. Peterkin
Decode your dreams and discover the fascinating science, history, and culture behind dreaming in this awesome write-in journal.
Have you ever wondered where your dreams come from? Or why they’re so hard to remember? Or how to make that monster in your nightmares a little bit more … friendly? We’ve got answers to these musings and more!
In this journal, you’ll explore the mysteries of the unconscious mind. You’ll learn how dreams inspired some of the most popular art in recent history, how the ancient Greeks used dreams to answer their questions, and how your brain works as it conjures up these amazing, imaginative, and often weird reveries. Plus, you’ll find tips on how to get a good night’s sleep, remember more about what you dream, and conjure lucid dreams. It’s the perfect tool to help kids remember, record, and reflect on their nighttime adventures. Catching Z’s has never been so much fun.
With lively text, and vibrant imagery, and plenty of space for writing, this journal is your go-to place to document, learn, and celebrate the powers of your fantastic, creative brain.
Listen to Dr. Allan Peterkin speak about “Dreams” on the Phil Parker Show (on SPREAKER)
The Flyaway Blanket
Illustrated by Emmeline Pidgen
Publication date: November 2011
Oh, no! Jake’s favorite blanket gets carried off with the wind and flies away.
Does it wander far? Where does it go? Will it be missing forever?
Take a peek at this sweet tale about a cherished blanket and that loving bond shared by a parent and child.
Winner of a Mom’s Choice Award.
The Flyaway Blanket has been translated into Turkish and Mandarin (Chinese).
Chill: Discover the Cool (and Creative) Side of Your Fridge (Refrigerator)
by Allan Peterkin and Mike Shiell
Did you know that a refrigerator has the power to make your spare time more interesting and families more functional? A fridge can also give kids a sense of artistic accomplishment – and even help them make some extra cash. They can also use the fridge to horrify siblings and brainwash parents! Chill is an interactive guide for kids to make their family fridge the most cool and creative in the universe. This colorfully illustrated book, full of comic-strip sections, cool factoids and out-there fridge psychology, includes a history of refrigeration, instructions on how to create special-occasion fridges, 101 things to put on your fridge, the Five Taboo Fridge Behaviors, how to create a fridge art consulting business, crafts, quizzes and games and more. Chill will keep the whole family coming back to the refrigerator again and again – and not just to rummage for snacks.
What About Me?
When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick
Illustrated by Frances Middendorf
Publication date: November 1992
What about me? This question, usually unspoken, lies at the heart of this poignant story, as a young girl attempts to cope with her brother’s being ill. Beautifully written and illustrated, this story deals with the many complicated feelings the well child experiences in such a situation: guilt about having somehow caused the illness, fear that the sibling will die, anger over being left out, anxiety about catching the sickness, and longing for life to return to the way it was. The story will allow parents and their well children to take some time out for one another and to forge a renewed sense of family.
Children may try to overcompensate for ill siblings and attempt to please the parents by becoming “superkids” who never have a problem. At the other extreme, they may start to misbehave at home or at school. They may be teased by other children because their brother or sister is not “normal.” They may feel angry at their sick sibling for getting so much attention, and then feel guilty for having such unacceptable feelings, with resulting damage to their self-esteem…. Children will identify with Laura, the young girl with a sick brother in the story, and will know that their feelings are acknowledged. Sharing this understanding will help reestablish the closeness between you and your child that is so essential to your child’s comfort and well-being.
“What About Me?” has been translated into Spanish and Korean.
Other Projects:
Goodbye Brecken
I wrote about what it’s like to lose a pet for the introduction to “Goodbye Brecken” by David Lupton.
