Celi the Gluten-Free Dough Buddy: Understanding Me is a heartwarming children's book created to help young readers understand celiac disease in a fun, gentle, and empowering way.
When a child is diagnosed with celiac disease, life can suddenly feel confusing and different. This story follows Celi, a playful gluten-free dough buddy, who helps children learn what celiac disease means in a way that feels safe, relatable, and easy to understand.
Created by licensed psychotherapist, mother, and founder of Celi Safe, Crystal Drennon, this book was inspired by real-life experience navigating a child's celiac disease diagnosis and the lack of child-friendly educational resources available for families.
Through simple storytelling and engaging characters, children learn that being gluten-free is not something that takes away who they are-it is something that helps them stay healthy and strong. The book encourages confidence, inclusion, and self-advocacy while helping families begin important conversations about food safety, cross-contamination, and daily life with celiac disease.
This book is ideal for newly diagnosed families, children with celiac disease, classrooms, pediatric offices, and caregivers looking for a supportive and approachable way to explain a complex medical condition.
More than just a story, Celi the Gluten-Free Dough Buddy is part of a larger mission through Celi Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free resources, caregiver guides, educational materials, and support for families navigating celiac disease.
The goal of this book is to help children feel seen, understood, and included, while giving parents practical tools and language to make life a little less overwhelming.
Every child deserves to feel safe, confident, and proud of who they are-and every family deserves access to resources that make the journey easier.
