Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back – A Royal Chapter in a Remarkable Journey

Kate Russell, the founder and owner of Tobi & Peanut Therapy Ponies, is a familiar face to children and families across Northern Ireland. Through her equine therapy service, Kate offers a safe, calming space where children struggling with mental health challenges can connect with gentle ponies and find peace in the healing power of nature and animals. Now, her work has reached new heights with the publication of her first children’s book, Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back—a beautifully written and illustrated story designed to help young readers understand and manage anxiety and worries.

In a truly special moment for Kate and her team, Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back was recently celebrated during the visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla to Northern Ireland in March 2025. As part of the royal couple’s three-day tour, Queen Camilla joined a group of children at a local library for a ‘Love Your Library’ day. There, Her Majesty took part in a reading of Kate’s book and met the author in person. The event, which aimed to encourage young people to engage with books and share stories that have inspired them, offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kate to discuss Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back and the real-life therapy ponies who inspired it.

It was such a privilege to meet Queen Camilla for Kate and to share a little of Peanut’s story with her. She was genuinely interested in the children’s reactions and in the therapeutic value of animals, which lies at the heart of everything we do.

The story follows Peanut, a real-life therapy pony from Kate’s stables, who loses his sparkle and learns—through the support of his friends at the stables—how to find it again. The narrative is gentle and uplifting, offering children a way to understand emotions like sadness, fear, and anxiety in a safe and relatable context. All of the animals featured in the story are based on real animals at the Tobi & Peanut Therapy Ponies stables, making the book even more special for those who know the ponies personally.

One particularly thoughtful feature of the book is its accessibility. The text is printed in a way that is easier to read for children who struggle with standard black-on-white formatting—a small but important detail that reflects Kate’s inclusive and therapeutic approach.

What began as a heartfelt idea to help children and adults through connection with animals has grown into a flourishing service.

As Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back continues to find its way into homes and schools across the country, Kate hopes it will help even more children begin important conversations about their mental health. This story is more than just a book. It's about real animals, real emotions, and the real power of compassion. If Peanut can help even one child feel a little less alone in what they’re going through!

With royal recognition now a cherished part of its story, Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back is sure to sparkle even brighter in the months and years ahead. To purchase click here.

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Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back – A Royal Chapter in a Remarkable Journey | Tobi & Peanut Therapy Ponies 2025