“Mommy! Daddy! I had a bad dream!”

How many times have you heard that cry in the middle of the night? Like every parent, you jump out of bed then realize what can I really do to help!

For most of us, it isn’t as easy as “go back to sleep honey, it was just a dream.” Relieving the anxiety caused by bad dreams can be a struggle, especially when your only wish at the moment might be to go back to sleep yourself!

Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper’s wrote her award-winning picture book Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream! for PARENTS! She’s been there. She knows we can sometimes use a little help with soothing our kids’ fears.

How’d she get so good at this? First, she’s a parent. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in clinical social work, Dr. Pieper opened her own practice. Her purpose is to help parents understand how to peacefully discipline their kids and comfort kids with emotional illnesses.

Dr. Pieper co-authored two books with her husband:

• Smart Love: the Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Regulating, and Enjoying Your Child; and
•  Addicted to Unhappiness, a self-help book.
  

We’re sure that you’ll be nodding along as you read our interview with Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper.

MCA: Welcome to the Spotlight, Martha! I’m sure parents everywhere can relate to your book. Can you share some behind-the-scenes info? What motivated you to create Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!?

Martha: I’m happy to be here! Before I wrote my award-winning picture book, I wrote a bestselling parenting book (Smart Love) and a popular adult self-help book (Addicted to Unhappiness).

My daughter Johanna kept telling me that she wanted me to write for kids, as well as parents and other adults. She persisted – gently! – and I finally  tried my hand at it. I have found a new avocation. I LOVE writing for kids!

MCA: Stories like that are always so fun for us to hear and share. Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, what are your plans for the coming year?
Martha: I want to write another children’s book starring Joey, the bouncy kangaroo. I’m thinking about topics involving children’s feelings that need exploring. Perhaps the issue of bullying, or temper tantrums, or sibling rivalry?

MCA: We look forward to seeing what you’ll create! You’ve been an Honoree for a little while now. Have you seen ways that your Mom’s Choice Award® can help you with your marketing and promotion for Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!
Martha: Yes. Three very visible ways. First, I have the Gold seal on the book. It is an eye catcher. I have also added the Honoring Excellence seal to my website; and having a press release has helped, too.

MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as a writer in creating your award-winning book?
Martha: As I mentioned, I moved into children’s literature at the urging of my daughter. I love writing for kids.

Because the genre is more visual, working with an illustrator who makes the words come alive in another dimension that you don’t get with writing for adults.

MCA: Since launching Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing your book with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Martha: Reading Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream! to kids is wonderful. They love the book and tell me all about their bad dreams. They are so excited when Joey the kangaroo is able to figure out his own dreams all by himself.

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Martha: It’s wonderful to be honored by Mom’s Choice Award® and to have kids love the book. How do I get the word out to a broader audience?

MCA: Talk back to us, MCA Alumni – what are some unique ways you publicize your books and products?

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!
by Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper
Illustrated by Jo Gershman
Children’s Picture Book
Gold

Contact, Connect, and Network with Martha

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.