When Stuffed Animals Come to Life

Imagine stuffed animals could come to life. What would they do? Where would they go?

Introducing Captain Terry the Pirate Cow, the character created by Melville resident Helen Dogiakis. Terry is a cow who travels the world in search of the best-tasting cookies. He isn’t an average cookie-loving cow though. Terry also moonlights as a buccaneer with his very own pirate ship in the book, “Captain Terry the Pirate Cow’s Adventure to Italy.”

Dogiakis thought up the idea for the children’s book based on the stuffed cow her husband won on a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure during one of their first dates.

“I always had this story in the back of my mind. I would make up crazy stories in my head about Terry and then I thought that it could make for a really good book,” she said.

Dogiakis, a mother of two, said she felt there was a void in children’s literature that taught kids about other cultures and countries. She put her ideas into action and created Terry who embarks on a new voyage each time he runs out of his favorite snack.

To help him on his mission is Marty, a brainy monkey “who knows everything about everything.” He’s based on another one of Dogiakis’ stuffed animals. Marty leads Terry on his adventure to Italy to taste biscotti. Along their journey, they make sure to stop and visit some famous landmarks like the Fountain of Trevi and the Spanish Steps.

Though a pediatric dietitian by profession, writing has always been one of Dogiakis’ passions.

“I like that it totally takes me out of my everyday thinking. It makes me use my imagination and be silly,” she said.

Dogiakis is currently working on a second book, in which Terry travels to Greece with Skippy the bear and the rest of the crew in search of honey cookies.

At the end of each book is a recipe that children and parents can bake together.

“I guess it’s kind of weird for a dietitian to tell kids to eat cookies, but everything in moderation,” she said laughing.

Since it was released in February, the book has been very well received.

“It’s so great to see the kids react to it. It makes me excited that I wrote something kids enjoy and can relate to,” she said. 

The book is available through the website terrythecow.com. It can also be purchased through Amazon.com.