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A mouse who can’t eat cheese and an owl who loves her anyway—sometimes the simplest stories hold the biggest truths. We welcome author MB Mooney to share how The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese grew from the life and legacy of Alex, a bright, owl‑loving kid who lived with Crohn’s disease and inspired a foundation, Beautiful Beyond the Pain. Instead of a medical explainer, MB wrote a friendship-first tale that helps children understand invisible illness, practice empathy, and see vulnerability as a path to connection.

We open up the creative process behind writing for kids and parents at once: crafting a title that hooks curiosity, choosing scenes that feel honest, and striking a tone that respects young readers without sanding down the hard parts. MB explains why children’s books are tougher than they look, how early readers—many without any IBD connection—found universal meaning in the story, and what it takes to put your heart on the page when criticism is part of the job. For aspiring authors in the chronic illness community, he shares a practical roadmap: draft freely, revise with audience in mind, find a writing group for accountability and critique, and build resilience for the inevitable one‑star review.

We also look ahead to future volumes featuring Alex the Owl, including a potential ADHD story drawn from MB’s family experience. Along the way we talk about making invisible illness visible, helping kids self‑advocate, and why every community benefits when friends learn to meet each other’s needs with flexibility and care. If you’re a parent, patient, educator, or creator looking for stories that heal and tools that help, this conversation is a warm, grounded guide.

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Links:

• MB Mooney's website
• The Mouse Who Couldn't Eat Cheese
• Camp Oasis- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation USA
• A longer interview with MB about his book- Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors podcast

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