As she gets off the bus, Roni is nervous but also excited to begin summer camp. Swimming, meeting new friends, singing songs and more await her. However, Roni is chubby, and being overweight presents several challenges for her. She is worried about being seen in her bathing suit, it is painful being compared to other girls and there is one camp counselor that seems especially hard on her. Though she is discouraged, Roni doesn’t give up and with the help of the camp staff she learns about nutrition, exercise and herself while collaborating with campers and staff to improve overall camp wellness.
This is the story in “Chubby Roni Goes to Camp,” a new picture book focusing on a young girl with weight issues, a problem becoming more and more frequent with America’s youth. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Summer camp is designed to be an enjoyable experience for every child. However, some can struggle with the physical activities and body comparisons that camp can present. This book was written to help kids be prepared and cope with these challenges.
“Chubby Roni Goes to Camp” was written by Roni Roth Beshears, EdD, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist, and illustrated by Rob Peters. Protagonist Chubby Roni is based on Dr. Roth Beshears herself and her experiences as a young child.
“The book series was developed in response to my own personal story,” Dr. Roth Beshears said. “Dealing with these issues and overcoming them and becoming a nutritionist, I want others to know they can overcome similar challenges as well.”
Though the Chubby Roni and Friends children’s book series was created out of the author’s experience as a young girl, Dr. Roth Beshears has given them a universal appeal. In her first book “Chubby Roni Takes Action,” Roni and her family learn several tips on how to make meals and daily activity patterns healthier, and the reader will learn these tips as well. Peters’ colorful illustrations are there to catch the eye of small children, and the books are suitable reading for the whole family. Helpful tips and resources are included in both books.
“The books are designed to help a family start a dialogue on healthy eating and other healthy habits,” Dr Roth Beshears said. “These books are ideal for families to read together.”
“Chubby Roni Goes to Camp” is the second book in the series. Dr. Roth Beshears has self-published both books and is currently working on marketing them.
“I want to provide another way for families with young children to address eating and healthy lifestyle choices,” she said. “So getting that message out there right now is extremely important.”
As a professional dietitian nutritionist, Dr. Roth Beshears shares in her books personal insights into the problem of being overweight in relation to school, athletic performance, social interactions with children and adults and more. The books are written and illustrated to inform as well as educate school-aged children and their families and offer a practical and professional response for lifestyle choices to promote health and well-being.
“I have heard from teachers and health care professionals as well as from children that the wellness and lifestyle messages in the books are very helpful,” Dr. Roth Beshears said. “I want the books to be in doctors’ offices, community health centers and clinics, schools and in homes and be available as an educational tool for them to use.”
Dr. Roth Beshears, a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, has lived in Kansas for 31 years. She is a past Greater Kansas City section president and national board member of the National Council of Jewish Women and is active in the Jewish community.
Writing the Chubby Roni books became another way she could reach out to the community. Being a nutritionist, Dr. Roth Beshears has seen many children facing the same issues. Her idea was to create a relatable character that would face the same kind of experiences that many children do. Summer camp seemed like a great fit that she seized on. Setting the story at a summer camp gave the opportunity to offer valuable lessons in self-awareness and self-management. With the help of supportive friends, staff and counselors, camp can lead to positive health and lifestyle behaviors to last a lifetime.
“I support the summer camp experience and think it can be very beneficial,” Dr. Roth Beshears said. “The conflict in the story is one kids can understand and speaks to a growing segment of the child population, and lets them know there are solutions to their problems.”
As Dr. Roth Beshears writes in the afterword to “Chubby Roni Goes to Camp, “Many children today are overweight or obese. Camp can be a part of the solution to the childhood obesity challenge. Whether it is day camp, one week long or several weeks, summer camp offers children a structured environment with social, physical and recreational activities when school is not in session. Let’s make summer camp, with supportive health promotion policies and personnel, a reality for all children.”
Parents can order “Chubby Roni Takes Action” and “Chubby Roni Goes to Camp” on Amazon.com and through her website www.chubbyroni.com.{/mprestriction}
