WHEN Newcastle's Alexandra Rose Mangano was diagnosed with coeliac disease 10 years ago, finding gluten free foods that she could safely eat - that also tasted good - was quite the adventure.
But, especially when she was younger, it could be hard explaining the seriousness of her condition to people.
Her personal experience inspired her to write a children's book featuring a "silly-yak" called Jack to help make a new diagnosis that little bit more fun and adventurous, and a little less daunting.
"I really wanted to help kids and families that live with coeliac disease by showing them that even though they have this disease, which can have quite a significant social impact, there are also ways to make it positive and fun. It's an adventure, this disease," she said. "I've found that so far a lot of people are connecting with the book, the story, and with Jack. It has just been a light-hearted way for them to learn a little bit more about living with coeliac disease."
Ms Mangano has also created cards for children to take to cafes and restaurants to show wait staff.
"There is a picture of Jack, and it says 'Hello, I'm a silly-yak, and on the back it explains what coeliac disease is and that their tummy is very sensitive to anything containing gluten... That any small amount can make them sick, including cross contamination from surfaces," she said. "I was 13 when I was diagnosed, but I still found it difficult and sort of daunting to talk to wait staff about my disease, because it felt like I was being a pain.
"So I wanted to create something for young kids to have and to show to wait staff to get them comfortable talking about it.
"Because, as a coeliac, you don't have control over what you can and can't eat - it is put upon you."
She said a lot of the foods Jack explores in the book are "sometimes" foods like pizza and donuts and ice-cream cones - but she said they were important to include.
"Healthy foods like fruit and vegetables are readily available out in the world for people with coeliac disease, but it's the sometimes foods that you find at birthday parties or when you're celebrating with friends and family, that I found I missed the most, and they were the hardest things to find that were good and coeliac-friendly," she said.
It is available via chasinglionsdramaadventures.com and will be available at the Olive Tree Markets in September.
