✨ The Weekly MAsh: Written Edition

An Interview with Thuy Petersen – Alpha Academy: An A-To-Z Adventure

1. For readers who may be new to you, can you give us your quick “elevator pitch”? Who is Thuy Petersen, and what makes Alpha Academy so special?

At Kidsgiving Press, we believe children’s books can plant the seeds of confidence, empathy, and resilience that grow little humans into strong, capable future change makers. Our debut series, Alpha Academy, brings the alphabet to life as characters who model emotional intelligence and problem-solving in fun, imaginative ways. Co-created with my own children, the series sparks joy in reading while giving families tools to nurture lifelong skills—and every book helps fund scholarships for under-resourced schools and aspiring teachers, extending the impact beyond the page."

2. What inspired you and your children to write Alpha Academy together?

Three years ago, we closed the doors of our beloved business, House of Playful Soul (HOPS). What felt like an ending slowly unfolded into a powerful new beginning. After a family move, my children stumbled upon a forgotten book I had published before HOPS opened.

I hadn’t shared it much, but my kids’ excitement as we read it again and again sparked a new vision. Together, we rewrote, redesigned, and brought it to life, turning a forgotten book into a family project. What began as a creative experiment has grown into KidsGiving Press, where my children help craft every story, illustration, and detail.

3. What was it like writing a book with your kids?

Writing a book with my children has been a transformative experience that deepened our bond and ignited their creativity. Their enthusiasm and unique perspectives brought the story to life in ways I never could have imagined. There are bright spots—like seeing their eyes light up when they come up with an idea or nail a part of the story—but there are also real challenges. The drive and focus of a 5-, 7-, and 10-year-old can be fleeting, and sometimes we have to postpone a scheduled podcast or project because they simply don’t have the emotional bandwidth. This process has taught me to be more strategic and intentional about when to schedule live commitments, while also savoring the bursts of creativity when they do show up. Above all, it’s been a joy to see them take ownership of our shared creation, and through it, we’ve learned the true power of storytelling to connect, teach, and inspire.

4. Can you tell us about your kids’ specific roles—did they help with brainstorming, editing, or even drawing?

I created the baseline for the story and page designs, and my kids jumped in to make it truly theirs. They are overflowing with ideas always!  They contributed new takes to some of the lines and page layouts, drew certain illustrations, chose colors, and added elements to the designs. All the letters in the book are their handwriting, so their fingerprints are literally all over it. It’s been incredible to watch them take ownership and see their creativity come to life on every page.

5. Kids can be brutally honest critics—what was the funniest or most unexpected feedback you got from them during the process?

My kids can be refreshingly candid, but in the same breath, it can also be soul-crushing! I’d share a page I thought was clever or witty, and they’d quickly remind me that I’m not the target audience with comments like, ‘But why is that funny?’ Their honesty was a constant reminder to keep a child’s voice and spirit at the center of the story. 

6. Which letter of the alphabet do you personally connect with the most, and why? And what about your kids—did they “claim” a favorite letter?

I loved seeing them see themselves in the characters. For example, my second son, Rhet, was born the year of the rooster, so he inspired the R page. My daughter Sawyer loves art, so she helped with the P page for pig painting. And my oldest son loves Y because it’s yawning and sleepy—he says it reminds him of himself on a Sunday!

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite letter because I love them all! Mostly, I love that every letter is in my kids’ handwriting. I also overlaid each letter with an animal design using an embedded pictograph mnemonic—a visual strategy that blends the letter with an image of an object or concept starting with that letter sound. This approach makes learning both fun and memorable, and it’s extra special knowing my kids’ creativity is literally built into each page.

7. What kind of feedback have you received so far from families, teachers, or kids who’ve read Alpha Academy?

The feedback was the part that gave me the most anxiety!  But it’s been truly incredible hearing how the book resonates with kids wanting to read it again and again.  Some kids are calling it their homework, parents have shared how it’s helping a younger child learn their letters faster, and teachers have added it to their classroom library!  But anytime I hear a kid wants to read it more than once is all the affirmation I need. 

8. Was there a moment where you realized this book was about more than ABCs—that it was really about leadership and life lessons too?

The first book I wrote was called ABC’s of Kindness.  In truth, I wasn't super proud of the final product so I did forget about it.  The kids were so excited to see my name on a book when they discovered it out of storage and made me read it over and over.  When they asked how many I sold, I had to fess up and that’s when they suggested rewriting it.  So it began as a rewrite but halfway through, my middle son was experiencing some tricky friendships.  I realized there were so many more lessons we could seed early on through the alphabet.  So Alpha Academy was born and we began the intro book Alpha Academy: An A-To-Z Adventure.

9. If you could play a quick “Letter Lightning Round,” which letter would you pick right now, and what trait or animal goes with it?

I would pick D for Dancing Dog. This page reminds me of the carefree spirit that childhood should be. My kids allow me glimpses of this free spirit, but I see it in them more often than not—which tells me they feel safe and comfortable being exactly who they are. That’s what I want for them, because the more assured you feel in yourself, the less you worry about the things you can’t control.

10. We’d love to hear more about your scholarship fund—how does it work, and how do book sales help support it?

Our scholarship fund is a heartfelt extension of our mission to nurture young minds and give back to the community. We dedicate 20% of net sales from KidsGiving Press books to fund scholarships for under-resourced schools and aspiring educators, providing access to educational resources, creative tools, and learning opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. By purchasing our books, readers become partners in this mission, helping to build brighter futures, one story at a time.

Next month, we’ll launch our first scholarship for under-resourced schools, and to celebrate this milestone, we’ve doubled our pledge to 40% of each book sale. Our goal for this inaugural scholarship year is $1,000—and thanks to the incredible support of our community, we’re already 84% of the way there!

11. Beyond buying the book, what’s the best way for readers to support you, your kids, and the mission behind Alpha Academy?

Beyond buying the book, there are a few great ways readers can support us and the mission behind Alpha Academy. First, you can contribute directly to our scholarship fund, which helps under-resourced schools and aspiring educators. You can also follow us on Instagram to stay connected with our family’s journey and join our community, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see behind-the-scenes moments, fun activities, and creative projects with the kids. Every bit of support helps us continue creating stories that inspire and nurture young minds.

• Donate - buymeacoffee.com/kidsgivingscholarship

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/kidsgivingpress

• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@KidsGivingRoom

12. Finally, what’s next for you and the Alpha Academy series? Can we expect more adventures with the letters?

Absolutely! We have big plans ahead for Alpha Academy. We’ll be writing more books, continuing to bring the letters and their adventures to life, and growing our scholarship program to reach even more under-resourced schools and aspiring educators. We’re also excited to launch the KidsGiving Club next year, a community where kids can tackle kindness missions and be celebrated for their collective good. Above all, we’re thrilled to watch the mission grow—helping kids build confidence, creativity, and a love for learning, one story at a time.