Former local Katrina Roe with her daughter Caillie, 6, who was the inspiration for her children’s picture book Marty’s Nut-Free Party.
WHEN former local Katrina Roe discovered her daughter Caillie was allergic to nuts it didn't take her long to realise that few people really understood what it meant.
Her new children's book, Marty's Nut-Free Party is helping change that.
The story of a cheeky little monkey, who discovers he is allergic to peanuts, is teaching allergic children like Caillie, their friends and families to negotiate the minefield that is living with a food allergy.
"For young children, birthday parties are the highlight of their year," Mrs Roe said.
"But for children with food allergies, parties can be difficult.
"People say to me that it's a clever marketing ploy, but I really just wanted people to understand what it's like.
"What has been really interesting for me, as a first-time author, is how much the kids enjoy it.
"They really feel for Marty. I think in some ways the parents are the ones you need to get to understand.
"They read to the kids so this is a way for the parents and the children to hopefully get the message."
Mrs Roe will appear at her old schools on Wednesday; Darlington Point Public School in the morning and later at Carrathool Public School. On Thursday, she will be at Yenda Preschool.
A special party-themed Griffith City Library Storytime has been planned for Friday, March 1 at 11am.
Griffith residents may also remember Mrs Roe as the host of Breakfast with Rabbit and Trina on 99.7 Star FM in the late 90s.