Nick Katsoris and 'Loukoumi' Making Dreams Come True (Part 2)

Author Nick Katsoris is a firm believer in teaching children at a young age that it's important to be nice to people, as we saw with his newest book Loukoumi's Good Deeds, but he also believes in encouraging kids to follow their dreams. He has certainly followed his.

An attorney by day, Katsoris has always loved writing. He started off writing a legal thriller, hoping to become the next John Grisham overnight. When his son was born five years ago, he had an idea to write a children's book about Loukoumi the Lamb. Loukoumi is Greek word that means "sweet," and, in fact, it's a Greek candy.

"I was in the kitchen with my wife, when I asked, 'Please hand me a piece of the Loukoumi, Loukoumi.' I actually called her Loukoumi. It just came out," explained Katsoris. "We just looked at each other and thought, 'Wouldn't that be a cute name for a children's book character?'"

Katsoris' second book in the Loukoumi series, Growing Up With Loukoumi (which also comes with a CD of celebrity narration and benefits a charity — the Make-A-Wish Foundation), encouraged children to follow their career dreams, and to drive that point home, Katsoris put together a "Dream Day" contest last year. Kids drew pictures of themselves in their dream job with the hopes of winner and getting to live their dream job for a day.

The top winner, Sophie, wants to be a Mars Rover Engineer. Katsoris had no contacts at NASA, and said, "I didn't know how I was going to make this dream come true, but people do amazing things for kids." NASA invited Katsoris, Sophie, and her family to Pasadena, Calif., to view the landing of a spaceship on Mars. He described it as one of the most incredible experiences of his life, and for Sophie, it truly was a dream come true.

The contest is back for 2009 — get all the information you need here.

As far as the future goes, there's plenty more Loukoumi to come. A fourth book, Loukoumi's Gift, will be hitting shelves in the not-too-distant future, along with a CD of narration by the same cast as used for the Loukoumi's Good Deeds CD. You can get a book of your own at the Loukoumi website.

For Part 1 of this story, please go here.

Photos courtesy of Nick Katsoris. Top: Gloria Gaynor voicing her role on the CD version of the book; Bottom: Loukoumi in the recording studio.