Why I Wrote Purple Spinach Dinosaurs!

While the dream of publishing a book was a big motivation for me to finally push forward on releasing Purple Spinach Dinosaurs! the real reason this particular story made it out of the many waiting on my laptop was simple - my son.

As a mom, I am constantly amazed by the funny, quirky things my son says and does. Most of the children's books I have written, and continue to write, have been inspired, in part, by him. Purple Spinach Dinosaurs! was born after a particularly insightful, yet unintentionally hilarious conversation.

My son was having a tough day and said that he was so mad he needed to use the "W" word. Intrigued, and a little nervous, I asked him what the "W" word was. He hesitated, but I assured him it was a safe space to say it. He exclaimed, "What the!" That was the "W" word. It struck me that while adults sometimes use words in frustration or anger, understanding their weight, kids often imitate without fully grasping the consequences. 

It got me thinking, soon, more words would enter his vocabulary, more potent than "What the!" and eventually, probably, real curse words would follow. I'm not against cussing, I am quite fluent myself. But I also think that while it is important for kids to express their feelings, it shouldn't be at the cost of others.

So, my son and I came up with a solution - special words. Words that carried the weight of what he was feeling, but without the sting. They could be completely nonsensical, funny, or even silly, they would be our secret code for expressing big feelings. Thus, Purple Spinach Dinosaurs! came to be.

I know this is a short-term fix. As he grows up, Purple Spinach Dinosaurs! won't be enough, and his vocabulary will expand to include words that would make a sailor blush. And that's okay. Because for now, "Pooping Popsicles!" will suffice.

This story is more than just a book, it is a reminder that even in our most angry moments, we can find fun, yet kind ways to communicate. And sometimes, those ways involve fibrous, purple dinosaurs and a lot of imagination.