We all know breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day and now local author and Carlsbad resident Nora Carman is launching her first children’s book Tiger in My Tummy to show kids why.
Through a playful narrative, the book introduces young readers to a little boy and the “tiger in his tummy,” a metaphor for the noises his stomach makes when he skips breakfast. Published by Redemption Press, Tiger in My Tummy launched on Amazon on Aug. 28. It will be available on target.com, barnesandnoble.com, and in selected independent bookstores starting Tuesday, Sept. 17.
“One of my goals in writing Tiger in My Tummy was to teach children the importance of starting the day with a nutritious meal in a fun and engaging way,” Carman said.
In the story, the main character’s rumbling stomach becomes the source of unintended classroom amusement. His embarrassment grows as he tries to quiet the hungry “tiger” inside him. Children will be encouraged to care for their own tummy “tiger,” taking on the role of its caregiver. In doing so, they’re also learning to recognize and address their own needs.
Understanding that many children don’t have access to sufficient food due to circumstances beyond their control, Carman is donating 10% of the proceeds from Tiger in My Tummy to Kids Around the World, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meals for children in need. Through this partnership, she hopes to inspire her readers to appreciate the value of proper nutrition and the importance of giving back to fight hunger and food insecurity.
To mark the release of her book, Carman hosted a Kids Around the World Meal Packing event in Carlsbad on Sept. 7. With over 50 dedicated “Team Tiger” volunteers, they packed 5,417 meals for children in need. Carman plans to travel to the Dominican Republic with Kids Around The World to help distribute the meals. She hopes to further highlight the food program and its positive impact on children suffering from hunger.
The book’s vibrant illustrations were created by Trevor Connelly, a middle school teacher in North County San Diego. Tiger in My Tummy is Connelly’s first published illustrated work.
Carman will be participating in multiple book fairs, including the Orange County Children’s Book Festival (Sept. 22), Write On Oceanside (Oct. 5) and Once Upon a Book Fair in San Marcos (Oct. 12), where she will be serving on the children’s book panel. She is also planning book readings and signings at San Diego County bookstores, schools and libraries.
Carman has a BA in Literature and a Master’s in Public Health. Inspired by reading with her two children and her background as a patient liaison, tutor, and substitute teacher, she crafts imaginative stories that resonate with a child’s perspective. Her books feature rhyming text and engaging narratives designed to foster a love of reading while raising awareness of critical issues affecting children. In addition to her writing, she serves as a care minister with Stephen Ministry. Tiger in My Tummy is her debut children’s book, following the publication of two short stories and a poem.
Learn more at noracarman.com.
