 Have you ever been blessed by a stranger who just likes to spread happiness? Meet Peggy Hruska—grandma, educator, and crafting wizard. In a world that can sometimes be a bit of a mess, Peggy finds joy in performing random acts of kindness, bringing smiles and story adventures to kids she’s never even met with her handmade crocheted octopus finger puppets. Peggy's Pocket Octupi “I stumbled upon a post on Facebook from Random Acts of Crochet Kindness. People were making these cute crocheted items like bookmarks, worry worms, and octopi, and leaving them around for others to find,” Peggy recalls. Each little treasure comes with a tag telling the finder they can keep it and inviting them to share their discovery on the Facebook page. Peggy loved this idea but thought, "Why not take it up a notch?" Instead of just leaving her creations around, she wanted to hand them out personally and soak in the joy firsthand. So, she started crafting flower bookmarks and octopus finger puppets, ready to spread cheer wherever she went. Crocheted Critters for Creative Play With her little crocheted friends in tow, Peggy heads out on her daily adventures. She loves handing the octopi to kids at restaurants and watching their faces light up. And there's a bonus: these cute critters come with a secret mission to get kids reading more. “When I give an octopus to a child, I tell them to name it and that it loves being read to and looking at pictures in books. It's the perfect pet—it doesn’t make messes and doesn’t need feeding,” Peggy explains. Naming the octopus gives kids a sense of ownership, transforming it from a simple toy to a cherished friend. It also encourages them to engage in imaginative play and storytelling. Of course, Peggy always asks the parents first before gifting these adorable finger puppets. “I just hold one up and ask if I can give their child a finger puppet. It’s reassuring because they see me handling it first. It's not wrapped up or anything. In the last 17 months, I’ve been turned down only about six times.”  Puppets and Parents What do parents think of these little gifts? Peggy and her husband were surprised twice when the parents of puppet recipients paid for their meals. Many parents appreciate that the puppets keep their kids occupied, and the way Peggy encourages their kids to read with their new little buddy. Finger Puppets for "Big Kids" But Peggy’s kindness isn’t just for kids. She loves brightening adults' days too, with crocheted flower bookmarks as well as the octopi finger puppets. Recently, she left an octopus finger puppet in a restaurant's restroom. A college girl found it and giggled as she showed it to her friends .Of course, each of them ended up with an octopus “study buddy” which soon escalated to every waitress in the restaurant receiving a little crocheted pet. “It may seem silly to some, but it brings me great joy,” Peggy says. “People are often surprised when a stranger gives them a gift for no reason. I’ve had so many interesting conversations because of it.” Peggy’s generosity doesn’t stop there. She recently gifted six finger puppets to a county office worker for his grandkids. “He offered to pay, but I won’t take any money for them,” she says. And once, after a ticket mix-up, Peggy and her husband had to talk to a manager. He was super helpful, so Peggy asked if he had any kids. When he mentioned nieces and nephews, boom—more finger puppets. He was blown away by the unexpected kindness. Hooked on Crochet Kindness Peggy has no plans of stopping. “I can make an octopus in about eight minutes, and it probably costs me three cents. I get yarn on sale at Hobby Lobby and sometimes at thrift stores.” She has patterns for other critters but sticks to safe items with no small parts. “I hope people realize there’s good in the world and not everyone has an ulterior motive. I guess I do, though, because giving out each octopus gives me pleasure. If I see someone who looks down or unhappy, I might chat with them for a minute before handing out a flower bookmark.” Do You Have an Inkling? As we've seen through Peggy's journey, encouraging children to engage in storytelling and imaginative play doesn't require grand gestures. Sometimes, all it takes is a little octopus and a lot of heart. So, here's a challenge to you, the reader: find ways to inspire and nurture creative expression in the children of your community. Whether it's through crafting similar small gifts, organizing story times, or simply sharing books with the young ones around you, every effort counts. Let's make the world a more imaginative place, one act of kindness at a time. Why not start today? Share your stories and ideas with us and see how far the ripples of your creativity can spread. Sign up for my newsletter to receive new reading adventures in your inbox, as well as writing prompts for kids, updates on my upcoming books, giveaways and more!
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