SHORELINE, Wash. — A TikTok star from Shoreline used his unique upbringing to write a new book for kids that just reached the No. 1 spot on Amazon's children's book list.
Peet Montzingo is a Shorewood High School graduate who grew up as the only tall sibling in a family of little people. He entertains his army of 20 million followers across TikTok and YouTube with videos that often feature his mother, Vicki.
"Little Imperfections: A Tall Tale of Growing Up Different," is about Montzingo's experience growing up feeling different within his own family, and in a family that was different from other families he saw.
"Understanding that you're different, we all feel different, and it's just kind of recognizing the truth in that, and also recognizing the fact that what you think your weaknesses are, are actually your strengths," he said.
Montzingo teamed up with co-author Rockwell Sands to share life lessons with humor, grace and compassion.
"It's really just about celebrating who you are and celebrating how unique you are because every single one of us is unique, right, really we just want to project love out in the world, and all love in our opinion starts with self-love and self-acceptance," Sands said.
Montzingo and Sands have been working on the book for the last two years. Montzingo said the dream became real when he finally saw the book listed as #1 on the big screen in Times Square.
"We actually waited until midnight because we thought there was no way it was real, and then it changed and the book was shining down on us from the big screen," he said.
The Amazon listing says, “Little Imperfections carries timeless messages of love and acceptance told through a truly unique perspective, and makes the perfect gift for anybody—young, old, or in between.”
Montzingo currently lives in Los Angeles and he admitted he was excited to do an interview with KING 5 so his friends and family back home could see his latest success.
The book features a QR code that will take readers to a video feature where Montzingo reads the book.
“We wanted to try something that’s never been done before so we hope people read it and then scan the QR to see and hear another version,” he said.
"Little Imperfections" is now available on Amazon and has a perfect 5-star rating with more than five thousand reviews.