Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch

First release featuring Piper Lee in the established Smarties Books Series

Books arrive in May in commemoration of Allergy Awareness Month.

While my oldest daughter is quite aware of peanut allergies since her school is nut-free, I am not totally sure she understood what would actually happen if a child with allergies actually ate one.  Sure, we have explained the concept to her but it was even better to have a visual that actually illustrates what can happen when a child with a peanut allergy eats a peanut!  It can be hard to imagine to a little one that the yummy taste of peanut butter can turn into a hip scratching, lip swelling catastrophe.

Piper is a child with a peanut allergy but isn’t convinced that anything will happen if she just has a little bit of peanut butter….  Unfortunately, Piper learns her lesson about peanut allergy reactions the hard way and this book is a wonderful lesson for all children.  Kids with food allergies can have serious and life-threatening reactions and it is important for everyone to understand prevention and treatment.  If a food reaction happens, as demonstrated by Piper, it is very important that prompt treatment occur.  Reading and talking to Brooke about allergy shots, swelling and ER visits seemed to make this concept stick.  This is a great read for families who have food allergies and sensitivities and for kids without allergies to understand the importance of being nut-free when you have an allergy.

Q&A with Author, Tolya Thompson

Q:  You work in the ER at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.  How often do you see small children being admitted for reactions to food allergies?

A:  Fortunately with advanced knowledge, a better understanding of the progression of anaphylaxis and the availability of effective medications, our particular emergency department has been able to avert many admissions with rapid treatment and observation in the emergency department.

Q:  I love your Fabulous Me Campaign to increase health literacy to children and families.  What do you think is the biggest health issue currently in the US?

A:  Lack of access to primary care providers in my opinion is the biggest health issue in the US. This is particularly true for those who have Medicaid and Medicare. Due to the low rate of reimbursement to healthcare providers, many of these patients are denied care. Many who are able to find a healthcare provider who will accept their insurance are informed that they cannot get an appointment for several months. Often those appointments are canceled and rescheduled when the appointment date approaches.

Lack of access to primary care providers results in increases in morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. These particular individuals who lack access do not receive the patient education and the preventative measures provided to those who have employer sponsored or self-pay health insurance. This greatly impacts emergency departments throughout the US as we become the sole source for primary care services and as we treat emergencies that could have been prevented with health education, proper treatment and routine screening.

Q:  My daughters’ school is peanut-free and my oldest is aware that children have allergies to nuts.  Are having schools peanut-free making a safety difference for kids with peanut allergies?

A:  Anytime we remove a known allergen from a child’s environment we are improving the safety of that child. However, there are a number things that can trigger an allergic reaction, bees, medication, shellfish etc…  It is impossible to always know when or where a child can come into contact with an allergen. And anyone at anytime can develop a severe allergic reaction. For this reason, I believe the most critical step to be taken is to educate everyone on how to prevent and treat allergic reactions. Understanding the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and the ability of all to provide emergent treatment, i.e. epinephrine, ensures that we are keeping everyone safe.

Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch

http://www.savorpublishing.com

List Price: $ 16.95