PETA’s First Picture Book for Kids: Harvey and the Lightning Herd

Harvey and the Lightning Herd, written by Helga Tacreiter and PETA, is a compelling children’s book inspired by the true story of Helga and her unbreakable bond with a calf she found disabled and orphaned after a lightning storm. It features illustrations by Denise V. Tremblay.

Harvey was one of six calves who were the survivors of their herd after lightning struck a tree on the farm where Helga worked, killing the calves’ mothers. While Helga vowed to save all the orphaned babies, she and Harvey formed a particularly special bond. He became her inspiration for faux-fur “cowches”—life-size plush likenesses of real cows—that she handcrafted and sold so she could buy an 80-acre farm, now the site of The Cow Sanctuary in Bridgeton, New Jersey, where cows and other rescued animals can live out their lives in peace.

Harvey and the Lightning Herd is the perfect gift! It highlights how one person can show empathy and kindness to animals and how, when we put our mind to it, we can accomplish anything. The book is 36 pages long and aimed at kids ages 4 to 7.

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“Helga Tacreiter’s story shows how compassion, determination, and a little creativity can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Harvey and the Lightning Herd is sure to delight young readers and perhaps inspire them to help make the world a kinder place for all animals,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

You can order a copy of Harvey and the Lightning Herd at the PETA Shop or on Amazon, and all proceeds will help animals by supporting The Cow Sanctuary. If you order through the PETA Shop, you’ll have the option to purchase a cow stuffie along with the book! You can also buy the audio book on Audible, which is narrated by award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. An excerpt from the audiobook can be heard here.

“Harvey and the Lightning Herd is both a heartwarming tale of friendship and a testament to the power of kindness and compassion,” says Baldwin. “I’m delighted to lend my voice to Harvey’s story, and hope it inspires children and parents alike to embrace their empathy for all living, feeling beings.”