Most children’s books contain some sort of life lesson, whether that’s how to be a good friend or the importance of being an honest person. Local author Shiree Barry imparts wisdom of her own in “Don’t Ever Pick Your Nose With Your Toes.”

A mother herself, Barry said she felt compelled during COVID to do something positive and silly, while ultimately serving as a lesson to her own kids.

“My background is in marketing,” said Barry, a Nevada County native. “I am a stay at home mom now but I worked at a marketing agency and have a degree in Communications Media Studies with a minor in Marketing. I did it as sort of a creative outlet. It’s meant to encourage imagination and being silly and I wrote it during COVID when I thought the world needed a little joy. And also to not pick your nose.”

Imagination, Barry said, is at the center of the book which features a young boy and girl as they adventure around with a stuffed penguin. Throughout the pages, the kids and the penguin are reminded of silly things they can do, but are also reminded continuously not to pick their nose.

“In the book at the end, you see toes in your nose are not where they go,” Barry said. “Find a tissue and blow. The whole message is proper etiquette for fingers and noses. The message is to use a tissue, but it goes about it in a fun way. And also the message is to have fun and play.”

The book is Barry’s first, and was a two-year process from the time she started writing to the time she had a copy in her hands. Her sister-in-law, Britt Adri, drew all of the colorful illustrations found in the book.

Barry is proud of the care she took in creating “Don’t Ever Pick Your Nose With Your Toes,” which she thinks is most appropriate for readers preschool age through third grade.

“It’s good for early readers because the words are a lot of their sight words they are learning,” she explained. “We also used a kid-friendly font, that was one of the things we put thought into. (The words) are all very easy to read and (the type has) dyslexic-friendly font. Also as an early reader, they say you put your finger along the words with your kid so we purposely put the words at the bottom of the page so you aren’t covering the art work. It’s good quality and something for parents to read with their kids or learn to read on their own.”

Barry’s colorful, playful book is available for purchase on Amazon as well as at Two Little Birds boutique and Harmony Books in Nevada City, as well as Make Local Habit in Grass Valley.

“I think it’s a fun book, it makes the parent and the kid laugh which is important,” Barry said. “Most people go into a giggle when they see the pictures. It’s a fun book with a fun message and the world needs fun.”

For more, visit Shiree Barry’s Instagram at s_blubarry. The author will take part in a book signing Friday, July 5, at Two Little Birds at 6:00 p.m. as part of Nevada City’s First Friday Art Walk.