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I am a retired teacher turned author/illustrator living in the mountains of North Carolina.
I’ve always had an interest in children’s books. I’ve illustrated numerous children’s books such as Poster Girl, by Anne Emerick, published by Aboon Books, Pearl Girl, by Stephen Rabley, published by Penguin, The Songbird and the Flower, by Chip Brogden, There’s A Dog On My Head, by Patricia Pollock, and more.
In November 2022, I wrote, illustrated and self published my first children’s book, Acorn and Button. It’s a chapter book about friendship and loyalty, aimed at ages 5 - 10+.
My picture book, Get Real, Lucille was published by Monarch Press and released in August of 2025. It’s about a rubber chicken who tires of her circus act and dreams of becoming a real chicken. Get Real, Lucille is a funny story about being true to yourself.
I also have a newsletter that I send out bi-weekly. It’s full of writing tips, illustrations, personal observations, book reviews and different kinds of activities. You can subscribe to the newsletter at my website laurapetrisin.com/acorn-and-button-newsletter
Committed to ever-improving my craft, I’m a member of SCBWI and Storyteller Academy and also a past member of 12x12. I’ve also taken courses from the Children’s Institute of Literature and Highlights For Children.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Get Real, Lucille by Laura Petrisin is a children's book that follows Lucille, a rubber chicken used in a circus act by her partner, Peaches. Though the audience laughs, Lucille feels unappreciated and longs to be a real chicken. One day, she escapes the circus and visits a farm where real chickens live, but they reject her attempts to prove she belongs. Unable to scratch, cluck, or lay eggs, Lucille is mocked as fake. However, when the chickens throw eggs at her, she instinctively juggles them, impressing the flock and making them laugh. Realizing her talent lies in performance, Lucille returns to the circus and reunites with Peaches. They revamp the act to include Lucille’s juggling skills, making the audience laugh with her instead of at her. Lucille embraces her identity and proudly becomes “the Real Deal Lucille.”
Get Real, Lucille is a charming and clever little picture book that balances humor, heart, and self-discovery with a huge helping of finesse. Laura Petrisin’s writing is clear and comfortable, and easy to grasp by younger readers. Mine was able to read straight through it without help at all. Petrisin is also the illustrator, and her whimsical style, bursting with a bold palette of primary colors, perfectly complements the quirky story and adds a sense of motion and personality that brings every page to life. While young readers will laugh at some of the physical comedy, they will also appreciate the deeper acknowledgment of identity, acceptance, and partnership. What truly elevates the story is its ability to show that finding your place doesn’t mean changing who you are; it means embracing it. There is no such thing as “just a rubber chicken,” and we are all something extraordinary when seen and celebrated. Very highly recommended.
