Karis & Brook Stories: The Costume Party – A Story About Food Allergies

by A.B. Namy

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · Food Allergies / Empathy / Inclusion / Safety

When Brook discovers his new friend Allie can’t eat peanut butter, one question leads to a whole town saved — and a lesson in empathy that sticks.

Cover of The Costume Party: A Story About Food Allergies children's book.

Project Overview

Karis & Brook Stories: The Costume Party by A.B. Namy uses a child’s natural curiosity as the engine for a story about empathy and safety. When Brook notices that his new friend Allie can’t enjoy peanut butter because of her allergy, he turns to his grandfather with questions — and gets answers that not only help him understand food allergies but ultimately save the town’s annual costume party from a peanut mishap. Namy builds the lesson through the series’ guiding principles of Encounter, Educate, and Encourage, making the educational content feel organic rather than instructional.

The illustration challenge was making food allergy awareness feel genuinely exciting rather than cautionary — the costume party setting gave every spread a visual energy and colour that kept the story feeling celebratory even while handling a topic that can feel anxiety-inducing for children who live with allergies every day.

Role

Character design (Brook, Allie, Grandpap, and costume party ensemble)
Full book illustration
Festive costume party environment and character design
Visual storytelling and scene development
Print-ready file preparation

Selected Double-Page Spreads (Final Book Layout)

Grandpa playing with his grandson and the grandson's girlfriend in a living room. — Grandpa playing with his grandson and the grandson’s girlfriend in a living room

Grandpa teaching his grandchildren that people can have hidden allergies. — Grandpa teaching his grandchildren that people can have hidden allergies

Grandpa explaining about food allergies at the dining table. — Grandpa explaining about food allergies at the dining table

A boy separating candies containing peanuts because of his friend's food allergy. — A boy separating candies containing peanuts because of his friend’s food allergy

Book Details

ISBN-13

978-1637554470

Publisher

Mascot Kids

Publish Date

April 4, 2023

Reading Age

4 – 8 years

Page Count

38 pages

Format

8″ x 10.25″ Hardcover

Available at:

Amazon

Publisher’s Website

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