The Peanut Allergy Handbook – Reviews and Customer Comments

As reviewed in “Living Without: A Lifestyle Guide for People With Allergies and Food Sensitivities (Winter 2005 issue)

This review appeared in their recommended reading section:

“Peanut Aware Extraordinaire

Introducing a new indispensable resource – a portable allergy handbook that may be as vital as your Epi-pen. The Peanut Allergy Handbook: A guide for Parents (Peanut Aware, Inc.) belongs in the backpack of every child with a nut allergy. Author Sheila Rusnell-Newton feels “the key to safety is education.”

The book contains concise chapters on treating anaphylaxis, Epi-pen use, becoming nut-free at home, navigating restaurants and reading labels. Introductory pages can be personalized so your child’s pertinent medical data is easily accessible in the event of an emergency. All who care for children with peanut allergies will benefit from this book.”

Calgary's Child Magazine (Nov/Dec 2005)

This must-have guide offers practical solutions on how your child and the rest of your family can live with a peanut allergy. As a parent of a child who suffers from this life-threatening allergy, Sheila Rusnell-Newton, wrote this essential handbook. The book shos you how to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, illustrates how to administer a simple prescription drug, and explains how to identify foods that are safe to eat. Also included is an area to store the child's personal information, including photo, medical information, emergency action plan, and notes specific to the child. Parents, Teachers, Caregivers, and even Grandma's will appreciate this useful tool. Available through peanutaware.com

From a Canadian Radio Station where Sheila did three one hour talk shows (Since summer of 04 to present)

We have had a tremendous response to your appearance on Murray's show!

We've passed along the website (www.peanutaware.com) to callers off-air so they can find out more about the Peanut Allergy Handbook, and to get more information.

Again, our thanks for joining us on the show. It was a great segment, and we'd love to have you back again in the future.

As reviewed in the Edson Leader (following an interview with author – August 2004)

“Kids can be protected from allergic reactions

A new book on peanut allergies may help prevent severe reactions in children.
Calgary author Sheila Rusnell-Newton researched and wrote “The Peanut Allergy Handbook” after her son Ethan suffered a potentially fatal allergic reaction.
Rusnell-Newton had taken Ethan to the doctor for his one-year check-up and inquired about introducing nuts to his diet.
Receiving the doctor’s approval, she fed him peanut butter the next day and he broke out into hives. She immediately called the doctor who advised her to give Ethan Benadryl, which helped reverse the reaction.
Rusnell-Newton started researching peanut allergies because she said her son had up to a six-month wait to see her allergist. She couldn’t find a book that detailed ho to care for a child with severe allergies.
“The Peanut Allergy Handbook” uses plain language rather than technical terms and shows parents and caregivers how to recognize symptoms of a reaction and how to read labels to find nut-free foods.
Living with an allergy has become a way of life for Ethan, now three. He is aware of what foods he can’t eat and demonstrated this to his parents last year when he refused a cookie from a friend of this father’s.
Ethan helps his mother read the labels when they shop for groceries.
“It just becomes a way of life. What I say is that our family has a peanut allergy. I’m not pinpointing him,” said Rusnell-Newton, who has two other children.
About six million children in North America have a peanut allergy, according to Rusnell-Newton’s website “www.peanutaware.com” .
“I think fortunately and unfortunately kids are diagnosed early in life,” she said.
It’s important to educate children’s schools and babysitters about how even a minute amount of nuts can cause a reaction, she said.
“It’s intimidating thinking of taking a child who is severely allergic,” said Rusnell-Newton.
Her coil bound book also provides instructions on how to administer EpiPen and other drugs. The handbook is small enough to be placed in a child’s backpack and children can include their photo and medical information in the books pages.
“The Peanut Allergy Handbook” is available through Amazon.com, bookstores, and her site. “

From customers who have bought “The Peanut Allergy Handbook”

“Thank you for writing this book!!!!!” – Dustin from Canada

I just received the copy of your book. What a unique and great resource it is! I'll put the info on my website and share it at our meetings and seminars. Great job, and thanks for sharing it with us! – Denise ( a leader for a large allergy support group in the US)

I have reviewed my copy of the handbook and I think it is marvelously, clearly and helpfully written.

And just like your presentation this spring, the book has a powerful
educational impact. I believe it truly makes the peanut allergic life "live" for the reader, and allows the reader to step into the shoes of a parent of a child with a severe allergy. And by stepping into their shoes for that moment, it is a powerful way of influencing their actions and their thinking.

I have communicated to a parent this morning that I believe a copy of your
book should be in every classroom in ** School and on the desk of
every administrator, and that Council should be approached in the fall to
buy enough copies to make that happen. In that manner it would be an easier next step to getting the teachers and administration onside with a more effective allergy policy at the school that would provide a greater
safeguard against incidents of allergic reaction at school. – Gord – a leader in School Council and School Board in Canada

I guarantee this book has saved my child’s life!!! – Nicole from Canada

I ordered my first handbook and found it so useful, that I wanted to order for my friends and family. - Suzy from the US

"The Peanut Allergy Handbook is an indispensable resource for the peanut allergic's library. Replete with practical information, and laid out in a most easily accessible format, this manual is a must-have for every caregiver who interacts with a child with a life-threatening peanut allergy. As a school psychologist, I reference the Handbook each time I devise an accommodation plan for an allergic student; and as the mother of a toddler with a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, I rely on the Handbook as my On-the-Go, A-to-Z Peanut Allergy ‘Bible.’ Buy one for yourself, one for your child’s babysitter, one for your School Nurse, and one for any other person who comes into daily contact with your precious little one.”

Thank you, Sheila, from the bottom of my heart for putting this tremendous reference together for our community."

-Nadine , M.A., Psy.D. Candidate

Certified School Psychologist