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About the Book

A Beach Day with Peggy: Understanding Lupus

What happens when a friend’s illness makes it hard for her to join the fun? A Beach Day with Peggy: Understanding Lupus is a heartfelt picture book that helps elementary-aged children understand the realities of living with lupus through a story of friendship, empathy, and inclusion.The book follows Spike and her friends as they plan a beach day for Peggy, who has lupus. They quickly realize that some activities aren’t possible, but instead of leaving Peggy out, they find a way to make sure she can be part of the celebration. Through warm storytelling and colorful illustrations, young readers see how kindness and understanding can turn challenges into moments of joy.This empowering book gives families, classrooms, and caregivers a starting point to talk about chronic illness and compassion in everyday life. A Beach Day with Peggy reminds children that true friendship means making space for everyone to feel valued and included.

Author FAQs

What was it like growing up with lupus, from diagnosis to ongoing care?

I was diagnosed with lupus at age 5, after a trip to Disneyland, so a lot of my experience with the disease was shaped by how a child understands the world. I spent half of kindergarten and most of first grade at CHOC, the children’s hospital in Orange County.My mom, Gloria, was my caretaker through all of it. We passed the time making paper dolls and going to the hospital playroom for arts and crafts. Even now, Easter is still my favorite holiday because she promised me I would be home by Easter. I still remember coming back to a house filled with chocolate eggs and stuffed bunnies. That memory has stayed with me all these years. It reminds me how much my mom’s love and optimism carried me through those early days.

Did you know anyone else growing up with lupus? What was that like?

I did not know anyone else with lupus growing up, and that made it hard. I did not really have anyone my age who understood what I was going through, so a lot of the time I felt like I had to explain it in the simplest terms I could.I remember meeting other lupus patients in the hospital and realizing, even as a child, that lupus looks different for everyone. Some people have much more severe cases than others. For my classmates, I often simplified it by saying, “I’m allergic to the sun.” That became my way of explaining why I wore a big hat or put on sunscreen before recess.I think a book like this would have meant a lot to the 5-year-old version of me, who wanted answers in language that felt understandable and comforting. My hope is that this story helps children and families talk about chronic illness in a way that feels gentle, relatable, and a little less scary.

What was the most surprising thing you learned while writing this?

I was surprised by how long the process took, and by how much the story changed over time. The earliest versions were written in first person, from Peggy’s perspective. But after attending the Big Sur Children’s Book Writing Workshop and receiving thoughtful feedback from editors and fellow writers, I realized the story would be stronger from Spike’s point of view, as the best friend learning how to show up with empathy and love.I was also surprised by how difficult and disheartening the publishing process could be, especially for a niche book like this. I received more than 100 rejections before deciding to self-publish. That part of the journey was hard, but it also clarified how much I believed in this story and why I wanted it told to the world.

You’ve participated in the UCSF lupus cohort study, as well as many lupus walks and support groups. What motivates you to stay involved, and how have you made time for it over the years?

Being part of the study has been deeply meaningful to me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to the lupus community, especially because I know my medical history is unique. In addition to lupus, I also have breast cancer, mixed connective tissue disease, interstitial lung disease, and Raynaud’s, among other complex conditions.And yet, my life has also been full in so many ways. I have built a successful career in journalism and venture capital marketing. I am the proud mother of a vibrant 7-year-old boy. I ski, I swim, and I have even completed a half-marathon. That duality is important to me. My mother always told me dreams are still worth chasing, no matter what obstacles stand in the way. A diagnosis can shape your life, but it does not define the limits of what your life can become.I wrote A Beach Day with Peggy: Understanding Lupus with one hope in mind: that it might one day sit on the shelf of a children’s hospital gift shop, where a child being admitted for lupus – or any autoimmune disease – might pick it up and feel a little less alone. And maybe, through this story, they might begin to believe that their life can still be full of friendship, wonder, and possibility.

© Candy Cheng. All rights reserved.
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