Why My Mom Left Me Out Of Her Book

Published June 19, 2016 at 7:57 AM EDT

NPR producer Lucy Perkins and mother Lynne Rae Perkins.

Frank and Lucky Get Schooled is a new children's book by author Lynne Rae Perkins. It's about a boy and a dog. And it's based on real life — her son Frank and their dog Lucky.

But there's another person in the family who got left out — her daughter Lucy. And Lucy Perkins happens to be a producer at NPR.

Lucy decided to ask her mom about the new book and why she got left out of the story.

Interview Highlights

Lucy Perkins: So you have a new story out and it's called Frank and Lucky Get Schooled. Can you tell me what it's about?

Lynne Rae Perkins: It's about a boy and a dog who become fast friends and they explore their world and they learn a lot of stuff together.

Lucy Perkins: Yeah, I know. It's based on us getting Lucky, our dog, and Frank, my brother, your son.

Lynne Rae Perkins: And I know that in real life, you were there also. But it's interesting how books happen. You know, I had been thinking about doing a book about school subjects and I was thinking of it as something that preschoolers would look at while their older siblings went to school.

And then I was walking our dog a lot, who was very old. And I was thinking about his life. And Frank must have been home from school and walking the dog and all of a sudden the title popped into my head. It's a complicated book and I think I had to simplify it by having only one child and one dog. Does that make you feel better?

Lucy Perkins: Yeah I liked the book a lot; I think it's very sweet. Can I read you a part that I really like?

Lynne Rae Perkins: Yeah.

Lucy Perkins: OK.

Lynne Rae Perkins: That was fun to do.

Lucy Perkins: Are you going to write one for me next?

Lynne Rae Perkins: Funny you should ask. I'm writing a chapter book about two sisters on vacation at the seashore, which has some roots in you and your relationship with your cousin Carly.

So, I mean, would you like me to make a list of all the places you appear in my books?

Lucy Perkins: No, you don't need to make a list, Mom, I feel better.

Lynne Rae Perkins: I'm just saying that you're there. You're in all my books. But if you prefer to have one with your name in it, I can work on that.

Lucy Perkins: Thanks, Mom.