'Self-worth has no price tag,' says children's book author Deborah Weed

"Self worth has no price tag!"  That's the message Deborah Weed wants children to take from her book, The Luckiest Penny.  With warm and vivid illustrations by Ernest Socolov, Weed tells the story of two 1943 pure copper pennies:  Allister, a shiny penny who has spent his life all alone in a protective case, and Henry, a penny who has been on several adventures.  While Allister sits pristine in his case, Henry has been in the garbage, in a roll with other pennies, and even in a washing machine.

Discussion questions in the back of the book give parents an opportunity to teach their children about living life to the fullest, valuing the important things in life, and never underestimating their worth.

Photo credit:  Robert Klemm

Here's what Weed has to say about The Luckiest Penny:

What inspired you to write The Luckiest Penny?

I learned through life's ups and downs that experience is what makes us rich.  It seems so much easier to stay in a box, untouched and safe, rather than striving toward our potential.  In The Luckiest Penny, one penny is uncirculated and therefore thought to be more valuable, while the other penny goes from being in the garbage to being someone's lucky penny, to ultimately finding love.

Would't it be wonderful if children's self-worth was predicated on something other than money and appearance?  That is my mission!

The two pennies in the book, Allister and Henry, are 1943 pure copper pennies.  Why are they so special, and why are pennies thought to bring luck?

This is amazing, but true:  if you have a 1943 pure copper penny in your pocketbook right now, it could be worth more than $83,000.  Since The Luckiest Penny's genre is an allegory/fable, what I am trying to get across is that pure copper pennies were made by mistake.  Yet, it is that defect that makes them so precious.  Our imperfections are what make us perfect.

During the Roman era, sailors believed that they had to appease the sea gods before going on a voyage.  They would throw Roman coins into the ocean and hope for the best.  This tradition has been passed from generation to generation, with luck being attributed to the lowest monetary symbol:  the penny.  It boggles my mind that we won't get excited about picking up a dollar on the street.  Yet, when we see a penny, it is almost as if we are hardwired to believe it is lucky.

Could you tell me a little about the interactive musical you are producing that is based on The Luckiest Penny?

I spent most of my career path in marketing and entertainment and what I learned is that when adults and children sing something, the words stay in their hearts.  I never wrote the book to sell books.  I want to share a message of hope.  What better way to do that than to bring everything to life.  Allister sings:  The All Spectacular Me and In a Box.  Henry sings:  Pehew, Every Penny Counts, and The Roller Coaster.  The entire show will be experiential for children and their parents alike.

Also, I am getting ready to launch a Lucky Penny club.  Each month, children in the club will get their picture put on a penny to reflect that month's theme.  It is still in the development phase.

What are your 5 favorite books from childhood, and why are they special to you?

I loved The Wizard of Oz because of the story line and unforgettable characters.  The fact that Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion already had what they were looking for is brilliant.

Black Beauty was another one of my favorites because he was beautiful to the little boy who found him, no matter what.

I can't remember the name of one of my favorites, but it was about a fish that always swam in the opposite direction of his school of fish.  He reveled in his independence.

Almost everyone one of Dr. Seuss's books tickled my fancy.  They were so whimsical and fun to read.

Yet, my favorite stories were the ones that my dad told me when I was a little girl.  We collaborated on the endings and so it sparked my creativity.  A few years ago, I ended up doing some musical productions based on them:  Wickelsnacker's Awesome Adventures.

To learn more about The Luckiest Penny, visit Deborah's website.