One of the main problems in this world is a lack of empathy, as well as many cultural and social prejudices. I write humorous picture books that bring across a positive message by encouraging empathy between all living beings.
All books in this collection are suitable for children of all ages. They contain no violence and no adult language. The books do not depict any drinking, smoking, or other vices, and do not promote consumer culture. They are intended to be wholesome and vegan-friendly.
The turtle, a symbol of wisdom and longevity, is suddenly caught and caged. As she longs for freedom, she dreams that she is a lawyer in human court advocating for all animals, domestic and wild. In such an imaginative framework as dreams can be, the most important facts about the unfair treatment of animals are presented. Famous animal rights advocates, artists and scientists, such as Tesla, Da Vinci, Gandhi, Tolstoy, Wagner, Kafka and many others, appear in the story.
This book presents imagination and arguments simultaneously, and is intended for school children as well as adults. The peculiarity of this story is that its true ending depends on the individuality of each reader.
“The Donkey Doctor” is a touching and encouraging story about the difficult life of a donkey on an island. One day, a boy with a special connection to animals comes to visit the island with his parents. In the crowd of tourists who take photos with tired donkeys and ride them in the unbearable heat, he shows the donkey compassion and promises to return to the island one day to help.
This story teaches children that donkeys can be more than just entertainment for people. Like all other animals, they are our friends who deserve to be treated kindly.
“A Snake at the Cinema” is a rhyming picture book that will make your kids laugh while teaching them some valuable life lessons: not to judge those who are different, to show empathy towards others, and to think outside the box.
The main character, a snake, is the only animal who is not allowed to enter the cinema, but cruel and unfair rules do not stop her from attempting to fulfil her passion for movies. Thanks to her other animal friends, she sneaks into the cinema in a few different and funny ways. The brown bear who tries to stop her represents those in the world who are prejudiced or and fear the unknown. At the end of the book, this character experiences an unexpected and hilarious transformation.
“The Pig Who Made it Big” is a rhyming picture book about a pig whose life suddenly changes after a film crew comes to shoot a movie on the farm. The director takes a shine to the pig and notices how intelligent and talented she is. She gets along very well with Ronnie, the director’s dog. An unexpected incident makes the pig realize that others regard her as fundamentally different to Ronnie just because she is a pig. Luckily, not everyone sees her like this.
The story is inspired by the true story of actor Branko Duric Duro who adopted a pig after finding out that the pigs used in a film he was working on were slaughtered afterwards, which would not have happened if they were dogs. This book highlights speciesism between animals considered as pets by humans and those that are not. It promotes the notion that all animals should be treated with the same respect and love.
“The Not-So Crazy Cow” is a humorous, rhyming story about a cow who believes that the grass is greener somewhere else. Despite receiving the royal treatment in her homeland of India, she longs to discover the wide world. One day, she packs her bags, puts on her best hat, and sails from India to Europe. One wise stork tries to warn her of the upcoming challenges, but the cow follows her adventurous spirit to discover this for herself. Her journey is full of unexpected situations and very soon, the cow starts missing her homeland.
This amusing book also presents an important question: who is crazy here? The cow or the world who treats her as though her life doesn’t matter?
“An Unordinary Lion” is a rhyming picture book about a scary lion who decides to break away from the cruelty of the food chain The lion’s metamorphosis begins when he hurts his leg while hunting for his prey. While he is lying down helplessly, he starts to look at other animals differently. This sense of vulnerability helps him to reflect on his way of life, and he begins to feel empathy for other living beings.
This unpredictable transformation from predator to kind vegan creature is written in a witty way for both young readers and adults to enjoy. The picture of a lion and zebra feeding together is a metaphorical vision of a perfect world where all living beings exist in peace and harmony.
