The Magic Story of Mrs. Peanuckle

When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a children’s book author and illustrator.

But as we adults often know, life often forces us to put our childish dreams aside and become boring old grownups, which I did with superb efficiency. I had three kids and ran a household as if I was a grumpy Mary Poppins. I became a big important business CEO like some sort of disillusioned King Arthur. And I became a crazy gardener to survive like a bitter Beatrice Potter.

But my inner Merlin stayed, secretly studying the esoteric, magical world of spirit in the hidden realms of my heart.

Then one day, I realized that the best way to change the world for the better was to teach our children well from the start, and teach parents along with them — all the things that are important to live a happy life on a healthy planet. Coincidentally, or not, I owned and ran a book publishing company and realized that there was nothing stopping me from launching a children’s book imprint, which I did (Rodale Kids).

On one of my very first shamanic journey’s, which I explain much further in my book Love Nature Magic, I got the message from somewhere — spirit, spirit guides, subconcious — to write childrens books under the name Mrs. Peanuckle. Where did that name come from? I have no idea. But it made me laugh, so that was a start, because genuine loving laughter is the key to a happy heart. It was also convenient to publish under a pseudonym since if I published under my own name, I would be accused of being a “nepo baby” which wasn’t even a term yet, but an idea I had been accused of my whole life since I had inherited the publishing company I ran. (People can be so mean.)

So Mrs. Peanuckle was born. She published a Fruit and Vegetable Alphabet and a Bird and Bug Alphabet. Loving Amazon reviews kept streaming in without any effort on my part (thank you everyone! It’s an authors dream come true!). I sold the publishing company to Penguin Random House and they called me to find out who Mrs. Peanuckle was because they wanted more books.

Ummm. It’s Me!

I remember in those early meetings they asked me how I came up with the name Mrs. Peanuckle and I told them “in a shamanic journey.” They still wanted me to write more books. And so I did.

Today, Mrs. Peanuckle has 9 books, a 10th — the Ocean Alphabet, is coming out in May. And I just signed a contract for two more!

Unfortunately, I do not do the fantastic illustrations, which are done by the brilliant Jesse Ford who lives in the UK and who I have never met. But I love how she brings my quirky words to colorful life. I knew as soon as I saw her work that she was the right illustrator for these books.

But today, April 22, 2023, is Earth Day. And I am most proud that I have just published the Earth Alphabet. I have learned through a lifetime of challenges that there is no better, more magical place to learn with love than by reading together with a caring grownup. In that trusting warm place, the world opens up and we learn how things work and that we are not alone. We learn to understand and appreciate the world around us, each other, and the Earth!

The moral of this magic tale is don’t give up on your childish dreams!

Mrs. Peanuckle says trust the magic! Even if you are a boring grown up. Who knows, you might remember your secret childhood dreams and bring them back to life, and along with it, your happiness.