Author Spotlight: Peter J. Goodman

This week, Bethesda Patch continues our “Author Spotlight” series with a conversation with Peter J. Goodman, a writer of childrens literature.

A resident of Washington, DC, Goodman is the author of “The First Day of School,” a book that highlights the issue of bullying using a cast of cats as characters.

Publisher dreamBIG Press is partnering with the Montgomery County Humane Society to help promote the work.

“The First Day of School” is the first in a children’s series dubbed “We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats,” aimed to help elementary-aged children face issues including bullying, childhood fears, confidence, being different, and making friends.

Goodman answered a few of our questions via email about the first book in the series.

Patch: Can you briefly describe what the book is about?

PJG: Carlos, a kitty cat with no fur, gets ready for his first day of school. Miss Bobsie, the teacher begins with a classroom ice-breaker, which allows the kitties to highlight two qualities they feel are unique about themselves. Carlos, clearly different because he does not have fur, decides to emphasize this physical trait, and the whole class laughs at him. After class, the school bully, Vinny, picks on Carlos. When two of his classmates witness this event, they stand up for Carlos. As the story unfolds, the reader will see how Carlos deals with and overcomes his insecurity and ultimately triumphs in the end. 

                                     
Patch: What inspired you to write the book?

PJG: I was inspired by a conversation I had with my nephew, Dylan, who was 18 months old at the time. We were chattering away, and I was pretending to be my kitty cat who could talk. He loved it and laughed hysterically – he couldn’t’ stop laughing! So I wanted to write a book for him, and that was the beginning of Kitty Cats for kids.

Patch: Who is your audience and what are you hoping they’ll take away from the book?

PJG: The book is for pre-K to Grade 3 children (ages 3 to 8). I want children to be entertained with the book and the characters, and it’s a great way to get kids interested in reading. I look at the book as a means to get parents to talk with their kids about important issues early on. This book is part of a series that focuses on topics that relate to developing social skills.  Each book will tackle an important theme and will end with 10 to 12  questions for parents and teachers, which will help them to start conversations with their kids or students. Overall, it is my hope that the book will be yet another tool for adults to use to help children explore their feelings and reactions to difficult situations, and in this case, it surrounds the critical and pervasive topic of bullying.  

                                                            
Patch: What was the intent behind using cats as characters?

PJG: I’ve always had cats as pets my whole life and I know them well.  Their habits, their personalities and their silly nuances.  So I thought cats would make great characters in a book. In general, all children relate to animals as characters – they love anything with fur and feathers. Animals can also be a substitute for children to tell a story without references to age, race or gender. And with animals, it is an easier and a more effective way to safely educate kids about topics such as bullying, diversity, childhood fears and empathy.  And the key to diminishing bullying is to teach kids about empathy – that all animals and humans are capable of being hurt and damaged – just like all of us. It’s especially important now in light of problems with bullying.

To learn more about the book, visit www.kittycatsbook.com.

Each Thursday, we chat with authors about their latest work. Check back with author spotlight each week, and you can be on the lookout for your neighbor's published work the next time you hit the bookstore.