Daniel: The Duck Who Was Allergic to Eggs
"I wrote this book because I want to increase knowledge and empathy in children, especially elementary-aged kids."
Guest post by Teen Advisory Group (TAG) member Faith Grumley
Since I was 3 months of age, I have been allergic to eggs and milk. Though I outgrew the milk allergy at age 5, I am still highly allergic to eggs. I joined FARE’s Teen Advisory Group to help other kids through the same tough times I have experienced. Growing up before veganism was popular made finding safe foods very hard, and I always felt isolated. So, for my Girl Scout Gold Award, I wrote a book to show children like me that they are not alone. I wanted this book to open up the eyes of food-allergic children all around. Now, at the age of 17, I will soon have to navigate the world on my own, and I believe it’s possible because I know how to handle my food allergy.
Written over the course of the summer before my senior year in high school, Daniel: The Duck Who Was Allergic to Eggs has spread all over the U.S., Canada and even Hong Kong. I wrote this book because I want to increase knowledge and empathy in children, especially elementary-aged kids. In my experience, navigating the world with a food allergy can be a scary thing, even when you think you know all there is to know about food allergies. This book is to help kids cope and learn new things. As a child in the early 2000s, I never had a comfort book about food allergies. The only ones that existed were about more familiar food allergies. From reviews about my book, I have received overwhelming support from parents who have never been able to find a book for their egg-allergic children.
This book highlights the ups and downs of living with a food allergy. Throughout the story, Daniel learns the importance of anaphylaxis, epinephrine, what foods to steer clear of and, most importantly, empathy. Food allergy management has come a long way since I was a kid, and we still have more to strive for in the coming years. Please check out my book on Etsy on the shop FegsNoEggs.
While FARE does not endorse products, we support and appreciate enterprises and organizations that are committed to serving the food allergy community.