Pellie Runs a Marathon by Michele Bredice Craemer and Elizabeth Lavin, hardcover, 32 pages, Power Pack Presentations (2003), ISBN: 0974013005
"I love the idea of taking exercise and making it fun for kids to read about. Pellie the duck is a cool example for kids to follow and relate to, in regards to exercise!" says Mary Baechler, president of the Baby Jogger Company. And nothing could be closer to the truth. Pellie, in fact, is a little cute duck who takes the reader through the work and the smiles of 26.2 miles. In running a marathon, Pellie learns lessons that both children and adults can appreciate. "Her feet get heavy and the race gets long. / But Pellie keeps on going. She even sings a song. / A little voice says, You can do it! / And Pellie keeps on running... She runs, runs, runs. / She runs right to it. Pellie finishes a marathon!". The adventures of Pellie are based on the author's true experiences of training for and running marathons. "Reading this book gave me the chills... I am always trying to succinctly explain to others how running teaches you so many life lessons, in hopes that they will understand my passion for the sport, but it is challenging to do this! This book perfectly demonstrates the relationship between running and life in such a way that people of all ages can understand" continues Jessica Blake, first Massachusetts female finisher in the "Boston Marathon". The story is simple yet captivating, and runs smoothly mile after mile. Pellie has to run uphill, trips and falls on a tree's root, puffs and puffs, hits the "wall" but her achievement brings her everlasting happy feelings. And this is what running (and life) is all about. "Michele has a passion both for children and the sport of running. This passion is evident in the journey of Pellie throughout the pages of this kids' book. I know of no other book that so positively expresses the joys and simplicity of running in a manner the toddler can understand" says Kevin Tordoff, senior director of marketing communications of Saucony. Author Michele Bredice Craemer presents seminars on wellness and motivation and this is her first book. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two young sons. Illustrator Elizabeth Lavin is also a freelance photographer. Her other works include "Jack Straw: A Halloween Mystery". She lives in Rhode Island, where she is looking for her next adventure.
