Children’s book ‘It Started With A P’ helps kids cope with anxiety

Local author Brittany Pomales wrote a children’s book to help kids dealing with anxiety. Pomales herself suffers with it and hopes to help little ones understand their feelings are okay.

“It Started With A P” is about King Liam. The night prior to his birthday, King Liam has a terrible nightmare in which his special day falls to pieces. The only problem? He can’t remember what wrecked his party, just that it started with the letter P!

To avoid this awful dream becoming a disastrous reality, King Liam takes drastic measures and concludes that everything that begins with the letter P, from pepperoni pizza to piñatas to pants, must go. But when he sends away all the people, King Liam finds himself positively alone. Will he remember what that pesky P was before his birthday is over?

The book is alliterative in form and does have some tongue twisters.

“It Started With A P” is Pomales’ first children’s book which she designed to be targeted at kids between the ages of four and eight.

“I’m admittedly a little bit like King Liam; it’s easy to get into your own worries, and sometimes they can run away with you,” Pomales said.

Pomales said the letter P is easier for the younger kids and parents to read and keeps the book fun too. Another part of the book that brings joy is the illustrations. Andrew Joyner, the illustrator of the book, is a “New York Times” best-selling illustrator who had previously worked on illustrations with the Pomales’ publisher and illustrated for Dr. Seuss’s books as well. Pomales said the book is better than what she started with and illustrated better than she could have imagined.

Pomales will be at Changing Hands in Tempe on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. The book will be released on April 8, 2025.

Pomales said her goal is “to continue with writing funny children’s books.”