The Princess and the Peanut: A Royally Allergic Tale [Paperback]

Sue Ganz-Schmitt (Author), Micah Chambers-Goldberg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2011

Every queen knows that in order to find out if a princess is REAL, one must send the "alleged" princess to bed on a magnificent pile of mattresses, slip in a pea, and see how she sleeps.  But when the royal kitchen is fresh out peas, the queen tries a peanut instead.  The princess turns out to be as real as her food allergies. 
 
This vibrant and humorous tale inspires, and educates children with allergies, as well as those who live in, and around food sensitive kingdoms.  Includes a food allergy guide for adults, and kid-friendly allergy definitions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The landscape of childhood has changed in light of the surging rates of allergies, autism, ADHD and asthma.  And The Princess and the Peanut is an inspiring resource parents and caregivers of food allergic children, offering valuable instruction, heartfelt insight and the ever-important happy ending.

Robyn O'Brien, founder, AllergyKids Foundation

It is a remarkable achievement to take a real and serious condition of food allergy and seamlessly integrate it in such a fun and informative way.  It is sure to both educate and put at ease any child having to face the reality of food allergy.

LanAnh do, M.D., and Roger Katz, M.D.

About the Author

Children's book author, mother and philanthropist, Sue Ganz-Schmitt, is passionate about helping children, and families globally. She is co-founder of an AIDS orphanage in Haiti, has traveled to China to help medically challenged orphans, and set up a birthing clinic in rural India. Yet, her writing is inspired by local children.
 
Even Superheroes Get Diabetes was created when her neighbor was diagnosed at the age of three with type 1 diabetes. Wanting to help the distressed family, she searched the internet for inspiring children's books, then decided that she would have to write the kind of book she was unable to find.
 
ESGD has reached #4 in the category of Children's Health on Amazon.com, and can be found in doctor's offices nationwide. Sue has been a featured speaker at Dodger Stadium during the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual walk, which hosted over 20,000 attendees.
 
This author's second book, The Princess and the Peanut, grew out of compassion toward a friend's kindergartner with a severe peanut allergy. And, her newest project, Even Pirates Get Leukemia, evolved after her daughter's playmate battled and won a fight against leukemia.
 
Identifying that medically challenged children are underserved by the children's literary world, Sue  strives to provide high quality and inspiring books for children and family who need heroes and icons they can relate to from diagnosis and beyond.
 
As a San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing in 1986, Sue's immediate goal was to get out and see the world. She fulfilled this by working in international sales and licensing for the entertainment industry, managing customers across 40 countries. 
 
Sue Ganz-Schmitt lives in a rural mountain community in Los Angeles with her two daughters and husband. She produces children's musical theater, has sung on Broadway in RENT, and writes for the local paper. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 38 pages
• Publisher: Wild Indigo; 1st edition (September 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983148708
• ISBN-13: 978-0983148708
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Children's book author, mother and philanthropist, Sue Ganz-Schmitt, is passionate about helping children, and families globally. She is co-founder of an AIDS orphanage in Haiti, has traveled to China to help medically challenged orphans, and set up a birthing clinic in rural India. Yet, her writing is inspired by local children with diabetes, severe allergies, leukemia. She graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business (Marketing) in 1986, and now lives now lives in a rural mountain community in Los Angeles with her two daughters and husband. She produces children's musical theater, has sung on Broadway in RENT, and contributes to an L.A. area local paper.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book September 9, 2011

By Emily

Format:Paperback

The Princess and the Peanut, by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, is a cracked fairy tale. Remember The Princess and the Pea? Well, in this version, the queen can't find a pea anywhere in the house so she sticks a peanut under all those mattresses. The princess breaks out into hives and can't breathe, the royal doctor stabs her an with an epi pen, and they all live happily ever after.

This is not one of those annoying, pamphletty little books. It's a beautifully illustrated, funny cracked fairy tale that completely captivated my middle child, who was also quite taken with another book Ganz-Schmitt wrote, Even Superheroes Get Diabetes. It's not preachy and it doesn't make allergic kids out to be victims. It's just a good children's book that is also about food allergies. The only caveat is that if your children don't know the story of The Princess and the Pea, they might need you to explain a few things, like WHY the queen stacks up twenty mattresses.

When the prince is learning how to spot a true princess, he's instructed to look for someone kind, loyal, gracious, honest, brave, and fair. Brave is in there, but not pretty. Nowhere is there a mention of fair hair or rosy lips (except when her whole face gets splotchy). The princess is pretty enough and she wears lovely dresses, but she's not impossible-looking. The only place where they discuss her looks is when her tongue swells up. Good for Ganz-Schmitt for realizing that you don't get a pass on sexism just because you are writing about an important topic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding new food allergy awareness book! September 25, 2011

By jdlawton

Format:Paperback

Just received the book... I read it to my 8 year old son and almost 4 year old daughter who both have life threatening food allergies. They loved it! The illustrations are spectacular! The story was fun and entertaining while still keeping the basics of food allergy awareness and how to handle a reaction: epinephrine, getting to a hospital, avoiding the allergen, etc.
As the leader of a food allergy support group, I will definitely recommend this to the families in our group. I would love to see this book made into a short film. Of the food allergy awareness books that are on the market for children, this is the best I have seen yet.
I would highly recommend this for all the princes and princesses out there who also happen to have food allergies as well as for their friends in the castle...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic magically transformed into a modern-day fairy tale! September 28, 2011

By foggprincess

Format:Paperback

Sue Gantz-Schmitt and illustrator Micah Chambers-Goldberg have magically transformed a timeless classic into a modern-day fairy tale that flawlessly depicts the 'royally allergic' as the very extraordinary people they are. Readers are sure to be enchanted, laughing-out-loud, and dropping a tear from this book's accurate, inspiring story and breathtaking illustrations! A must have for anyone who has, or loves someone with, food allergies. --Michelle Fogg, Founder, Utah Food Allergy Network and mother of one 'Royally Allergic Princess'