We’ve got such an incredible read aloud book to share with you today! There's a Yeti in my Tummy, written by Meredith Rusu with illustrations by Martín Morón, is a fun, playful read that teaches much to both parents and kids. Let me explain…

We’ve all got a yeti inside us, ready to bust out! Whether it’s hangry, big emotions, strong feelings that make us want to jump and stomp, it’s a good thing to learn to recognize them, honor them, and reroute them into a joyful, positive experience.

This book does just that.

With beautiful, funny rhyme and vivid, hilarious (and diverse!) illustrations, this book captures the attention of all readers—and shows us how to live with such exuberance. Life is so good. 

Highly, highly recommended!

We were lucky enough to chat with Rusu, and ask her about her new book, inspiration, teaching kids with the Mighty Moods series, and more. Here’s what she had to say…

Please tell us about your new book, There's a Yeti in my Tummy...
There’s a Yeti in My Tummy is the first book in the Mighty Moods series, a hilarious collection of rhyming picture books that explore the ways kids use larger-than-life creatures to express their BIG feelings!

In this first story, Matthew is a young boy who likes to be silly, bold, and brave. But when his feelings get a little too big, it’s almost like there’s a YETI just bursting to get out! And when Mathew’s yeti comes to play, he’s bound to stay all day. That silly yeti comes out of Matthew’s feet, his nose, his hair, his burp, and even his butt! But if Matthew's yeti stays all day . . . what will his parents and teachers say?

Bound to make any child roar with laughter, There’s a Yeti in My Tummy teaches kids that big feelings are okay—and so are our inner yetis!—as long as those big feelings are channeled in constructive, positive, and loving ways. Kids will love the fun rhymes and lively illustrations. And parents will appreciate the wink and nod that struggle is real, but these “larger-than-life” moments are the ones that help us grow along with our children. 

What inspired you to write this book?
I had the idea for There’s a Yeti in My Tummy a few years back when my older son, then five years old, would wake up with a huge mop of bed head in the morning. It was so wild, I thought to myself, “It’s like there’s a yeti in there.” And thus, the inspiration was born!

My two sons, now eight and six, have both been little “yetis” since they were toddlers. I found myself encountering daily wackiness you couldn’t make up. Things I would text my husband at work because they were so unbelievable. Like discovering all the tissues in the house sacrificed as part of a Super Mario “boss battle.” Cheese doodles dumped in the middle of the kitchen floor for an afternoon snack. Getting a call yet again from the teacher because of a “robot zombie scuffle” on the playground. And, of course, the constant struggle that is getting ready for school. 

Sometimes, when the craziness is just too much, you have to laugh. I wanted to share that joy in the chaos through this series and also use it to empower children to find their inner strengths as they’re growing along with their big feelings.

This is part of the Mighty Moods series...what should parents/educators/caregivers know about your book and this series, and how to best teach kids through reading them?
Above all, the Mighty Moods series is meant to inspire joy as grownups and kids read together. Children have such a unique way of expressing themselves. They naturally gravitate toward things that help them to feel big and strong and powerful. The pounding of their feet on the wooden floor isn’t just “banging.” It’s “yeti stomps.” Spinning around the room in a new ballet tutu isn’t just “dancing.” It’s “unicorn magic.” And feeling mad at mommy or daddy isn’t just “anger.” It’s a “werewolf’s howl.”

My hope with the series is that children will resonate with the characters, laugh along with their hilarious antics, and that parents and caregivers can use each story to encourage kids to channel those big feelings in positive ways when they get a little too, well, big!

I love the illustrations! Can you please tell us more about your illustrator, Martín Morón, and how you worked together?
I’m absolutely thrilled with Martín’s illustrations, too! This is our first time working together, and as soon as I saw his sketches, I could tell that Martín just got it. He mentioned that the boy in the story reminded him of his own son, and I think that was a huge part of him connecting with the book. He transformed my abstract idea of an emotional “yeti” into an illustrated character that’s big and powerful and fun and lovable and goofy all at once. All the little details he added throughout—the yetis on Matthew’s pajamas, the expressions of the kids in the classroom—it’s all just perfect.

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A post shared by Meredith Rusu (@meredithrusuwrites)

How can people find your work? 
If you’re interested in fun updates, sneak peeks of the Mighty Moods series and all my work, and event announcements, make sure to check out my website, meredithrusu.com, and follow me on Instagram at @meredithrusuwrites.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The next two books in the Mighty Moods series will be coming out with 4U2B Books and Media in 2024 and 2025. I’m not able to reveal the new creatures . . . yet! But trust me—there are MANY big emotions to come!

Author Meredith Rusu lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children’s books, notably There’s a Yeti in my Tummy (the first picture book in the Mighty Moods series), Anna, Elsa, and the Enchanting Holiday, Silenzio, Bruno!, and The DATA Set series under the name Ada Hopper. She has also written for many popular licenses including LEGO, Disney/Pixar, Peppa Pig, and Star Wars. When she isn’t writing, Meredith enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two.