Have you ever seen a cat in a yellow hat? I hadn’t until I came across the Oliver Poons Children’s Company. Founded by Lauryn Alyssa Wendus, the company is dedicated to providing smiles and happiness through their children’s books for young readers, along with their educational workbooks and games. Oliver Poons, the main character in the books, was inspired by Lauryn’s own adopted cat, Oliver.
What I love about this company is that they partner with animal shelters and rescue groups across the U.S. and donate 15% of their online sales. And the buyer gets to choose the shelter or rescue!
A Conversation with Lauryn
What is Oliver Poons Children’s Company all about?
We like to say our mission is to bring happiness — Happy Children, Happy Causes, and Happy Careers!
- Happy Children – Our books and accessories are designed to be lighthearted and bring a smile to children and adults alike! Oliver Poons and his friends are happy children’s characters who bring a little whimsy and fun into the day, yet whose sweet and innocent nature make for the perfect bedtime story. At the Oliver Poons Children’s Company, we believe every child deserves a happy day and happy dreams!
- Happy Causes – Our vision for our business has always extended beyond the products. We hope to be able to bring smiles and happiness to causes supporting children, education, and animal rescue efforts by donating a portion of our proceeds throughout the year.
- Happy Careers – The Oliver Poons Children’s Company was created partly because of my inability to work a traditional job from a prolonged illness with Lyme disease. It’s a passion of mine to help others in similar situations also create new work for themselves through the website differentwork.org.
Will you talk about the importance of wanting to give back? And what is Yellow Hats for Cats?
I’ve always had a strong desire to help others. It’s a great feeling to be creating a business that is not only helping me create a new life for myself after illness, but also able to give back to other great organizations.
In our #YellowHatsforCats campaign, we’re partnered with animal shelters across the U.S. to which we donate 15% of our online sales. Customers can choose a participating group to benefit with their purchase on the dropdown menu on each of our product pages. Our goal is to have at least one participating group in every state!
We started #YellowHatsforCats because as much as the Oliver Poons Children’s Company is about children, it’s about animals too! My lovable rescue cat, Oliver, is the inspiration behind the character, Oliver Poons. Animals have such a unique ability to bring love and companionship into all of our lives. At the Oliver Poons Children’s Company, we’re passionate about supporting the organizations who help rescue our future best fur-friends!
How do you select the animal rescue groups and shelters to support?
We’re open to conversations with any group that is interested in participating that treats animals in a humane way. We know there are a lot of smaller groups out there in desperate need of funding, so we want to remain approachable so all groups can benefit. We will, however, be capping our number of participants at no more than three groups per state just so our dropdown list doesn’t become too overwhelming by state.
Take a look on yellowhatsforcats.com and see if your state is in need of a group! We love suggestions from our supporters too. We want to make this campaign successful for all groups and have people feel excited that they’re supporting someone in their local community!
Now onto the real Oliver…How did he come into your life?
I adopted Oliver as a rescue from the group No Kitten Left Behind in East Hartford, CT shortly after graduating college. I had always grown up with cats and it seemed necessary to start my adult life off on the right foot!
Oliver became my constant companion through what I’ll now call my “tumultuous twenties”! I went through a number of life changes – moving, ending relationships, changing jobs, and then, the most significant – a case of Lyme disease that turned very severe and caused me to be unable to work a traditional job for the last 4+ years. Oliver has been by my side through all of it, so it’s no surprise he secured a role as the main character in my children’s books!
What is it that you love most about Oliver?
Oliver’s companionship has certainly been a huge gift in my life. I never expected my twenties to be filled with a major illness. In addition to the physical ramifications that illness brings, the social ramifications can also be difficult. Having a best friend to keep me company and make me smile on even the toughest of days has made him one special cat!
Anything else we should know about the company?
My mother, Lois, is the illustrator behind the Oliver Poons Children’s Company. With Oliver as my inspiration and my mother as my illustrator, this business is definitely a family affair!
Anything else we should know about you?
I started writing children’s stories amidst my recovery from Lyme disease when neurological symptoms caused a sudden switch to me using my left hand. While this was an odd symptom, it was a positive one! I explored writing with my left hand more as time went on and found myself writing creatively. Soon, the Oliver Poons stories were born and the rest is history!
Thank you to Lauryn for sharing with us the Oliver Poons Children’s Company! It is wonderful that they give back to rescues and shelters all across the country! If you’d like to purchase any of the Oliver Poons books, you can do so at their website. And check to see what rescues and shelters receive the 15% donation in your area!
If you are a rescue or shelter and would like to be listed on the Oliver Poons website as an option, you can message the company on any of their social media channels. Remember that they limit the listings to three per state.
Connect with Oliver Poons Children’s Company at: oliverpoons.com, yellowhatsforcats.com, instagram.com/yellowhatsforcats, instagram.com/oliverpoons, instagram.com/therealoliverpoons and twitter.com/oliverpoons.
The Oliver Poons books are adorable and you can see previews of them on their website.
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Such a lovely thing
Thank you so much, Connie!
Oliver is just so adorable.
What a cutie
I’ll be sure to pass along the compliment! Thank you, Kim! :)
Oliver be gawjus. And he even allows a hat on his head. Great story, and great cause. Fanks fur sharin’. Have a pawsum weekend.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Thank you, much love back to you :)
Aww, we love this! Wonderful interview. We’ll definitely check out the Oliver Poon books!
Thank you so much! We’d love for you to check out the books & benefit one of our animal rescue groups :)
What a great story! I love that the author used her illness and recovery as an opportunity to explore her creative side, and that writing with her left hand helping bring this out. PS. Oliver is adorable!
Thank you so much for the kind words, PawesomeCats!
What a great story. We’ve seen Oliver and other cats in yellow hats on instagram.
So cool you’ve seen our crew of cats in hats popping up, thank you for the support :)
Incredible story … and so many great causes addressed here (animals, alternative work, and children).
Thank you so much, mommakatandherbearkat! :)
so cute! I really love the cats in yellow hats!!!
Thank you! We may be called #YellowHatsforCats, but a lot of our animal groups help pups too, of course :)
THat is so cute and wonderful! I do love cats in hats!
I can tell by your picture! That’s a good look for you :) Have you participated in our Instagram challenge yet?
This is just pawsome! We’ll definitely be checking out these books :)
Thank you so much, Melissa! I really appreciate your support & our animal groups do too :)
Oliver and his books sound like fun, something Lyme Disease isn’t.
I definitely needed to bring a little happy out of the ordeal!
Great post, Oliver is a cutie.
I’ll be sure to tell him you said so :)
Love Oliver and such an interesting interview. I appreciate anyone that gives back, and do my best to support them as a result.
Thank you so much!! Oliver and I really appreciate that!
Great interview and I love the yellow hats, what a great idea for giving back
Thank you, Ruth!
That’s so interesting about how her Lyme Disease shaped the company and led her to writing (with her left hand). I will definitely check out them out. Of course, I love that they also donate to shelters!
Thank you! So grateful for your support :)
This is a wonderful example of hope and courage despite all odds. The author’s tenacity and generosity flowered into something rather special, I love it. Will be checking them out.
Thank you, Chirpy Cats! Appreciate the support :)
If I had kids I’d definitely grab this.
Hi Jana! We’re actually partnered with our local children’s hospital and you can sponsor a book to go to a child there that will help a child in need of a smile and an animal rescue group all at the same time! There’s a link on yellowhatsforcats.com if you’re interested :)
Kudos to the #YellowHatsforCats campaign and I love that the buyer gets to choose the shelter or rescue!
Thanks, Joely! If you have a favorite rescue that’s not on our list, definitely let us know so we can reach out to them :)
Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
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This is really cool! I had seen a few Yellow Hats for Cats posts floating around on social media and didn’t know what it was about. After looking at the website, it appears that one my of my local cat rescues is a participant! :) I love that they do so much to help cats and bring smiles to people everywhere.
Oh, I love that!! Which rescue is nearby to you?
Tigerlily Cat Rescue in Michigan :)
What a wonderful story and interview! We love Lauryn and Oliver’s story, and the good that they are doing through their company. :)
Thank you! We’re so lucky to have supporters like you!
She sounds like she has some wonderful inspiration from her mother and her cat.
The two closest to me :)
Oliver Poons is an adorable cat! Those books look like they would be so nice for children. And what a great cause too. Win-win.
We have never heard about this. What a wonderful story and such a great cause.
I had never heard of these books before…I’ll be checking them out for sure! Thanks for the great interview!
What a great company! The books not only look cute, but it’s for a great cause!
What fun, cats in yellow hats. :)
What a great cause. And oh so cute!
Great origin story. Love how it benefits so many people and animals.
Fantastic! I have worn my yellowhat on IG :) Pawkisses for a Happy Day :) <3
Great interview an story as well! Cute!
I love this project. I just finished my first children’s picture book Penny P Pug and am looking at how to combine entertaining and educating kids and giving back. I will definitely look at their site. The kitty looks so cute and great that a family affair.
What a great company, I love that they give back to children and animals as well as educational causes. That’s so important, literacy is still an issue in this country, which is a total travesty. I really like the yellow hats theme too.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I love this post! It is inspiring how Lauryn has created something so wonderful out of a difficult situation. Not only has she created beautiful and meaningful books, but she is helping so many. Children can read the stories and enjoy the beautiful illustrations, and thanks to Lauryn’s generosity, learn about the importance of philanthropy at the same time.
Thank you for introducing me to Oliver and the Yellow Hats for Cats!
I’d seen Yellow Hats for Cats somewhere…maybe INSTAGRAM, but I had no idea what it was all about. Thanks for letting me know. Hugs, Janet
This is amazing! I had no idea there was a book company that gives back to rescues!
Fantastic post mew guys, another supurr intermew and what a great idea/cause – purrfection!!!