
When alpaca Princess Pumpkin was born, she weighed 5½ pounds and should have been too small to survive. However, Michael James and Amber Cavalier Splier adopted and raised her as a “princess” in their “castle,” eventually letting her venture out in search of friendship with bigger alpacas.
They’ve now turned this special alpaca’s story into a children’s book, “Princess Pumpkin the Pocket Alpaca,” illustrated by Kristin Llamas, to share their little friend’s independence and bravery. Readers get to see Princess Pumpkin grow as she embarks on a meaningful journey of self-reflection and transitions to living life as part of the herd, learning to embrace her differences and just be herself.

The book was launched as a way to not only inspire kids, but to raise funds to benefit patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. With every book sold on the website, pumpkinthealpaca.com, Rolling Rock Ranch, Pumpkin’s home, will donate $2 to Children’s Hospital.