Lil Redfoo, Big Adventure

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Music, plant-based lifestyle, solar power, rescue animals, a trip to an island on a boat … all fit into one children’s book.

Recently published “Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” is written by Palisadian Nancy Leiviska and Stefan “Redfoo” Gordy.

“We’re about love for the animals, healthy eating and living sustainable for the planet,” Gordy said to the Palisadian-Post. “We currently have rescued two cows, two pigs, five dogs, a turkey and two chickens, and every friend and visitor loves to pet and feed them.”

Both authors are well known for their work in the music industry: Gordy for being part of international pop duo LMFAO (“Party Rock Anthem,” “Sexy and I Know It”) and Leiviska as “a pioneer in the music video world.” Leiviska has lived in the Palisades since 1976, and Gordy graduated from Palisades Charter High School and played sports in the community.

“I adore the Palisades, hike often in Temescal Park, hardly ever leave except to take care of my granddaughter, Ily Oak, four days a week at Stefan’s Vegan Ranch and Tennis Academy in Calabasas,” Leiviska said.

“Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” follows Momfoo and Lil’ Redfoo—characters inspired by their likeness. Lil’ Redfoo wakes up from a “ridiculous” dream where the two of them head off to Dogalina Island—inspired by Catalina Island, which is where Leiviska and Gordy camped and vacationed “most of his childhood years”—on a boat for his birthday, complete with watching dolphins riding jet skis.

After eating some vegan pizza, the adventure continues with Lil Redfoo and Momfoo finding a puppy, who joins them for a ride in a Solarrolla golf cart. Just after Momfoo agreed to let Lil Redfoo keep the puppy, who has been named Tuffy, his alarm goes off and he returns to his real life birthday. Readers will have to get their own copy to see if his birthday wish ends up coming true.

There are QR codes placed in the book, which, when scanned, play Gordy’s song “Let’s Get Ridiculous”—which is also the inspiration for the title of the book. Leiviska said this was added to be an “easy sing-along for parent and child.”

“The Foo family has been plant based and vegan minded for the last seven years,” Gordy said. “My partner Jasmine was a great influencer, and has helped with being conscious of leather products, animal bi-products in food and products. Our cars and trucks are all battery operated, and our camper and golf cart are solar run, as is our home. I want my daughter to associate with animals and plant-based friends.”

Leiviska said that writing the book together was a way for the two to connect after Gordy got off the road touring. She was also inspired by her time as a STAR Volunteer Reader at Palisades Branch Library, which she does each week on Wednesdays.

She described the process of writing the book as “challenging,” as they both keep busy schedules. She said she took the lead, interviewing illustrators, scheduling Zoom meetings, looking for printers and writing drafts of the story.

The illustrator, Rhonda Holland, is from Chicago, Illinois, where she graduated with a graphic and commercial arts degree. Now based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she has spent nearly four decades in the printing and music industry.

“Thank goodness [for] technology for one-hour Zoom meetings,” Leiviska said of working with Rhonda while she was in another state. “I flew her out to Los Angeles New Year’s 2020 to take a trip to Catalina Island … we stayed a couple of days and talked about the book, and the magical island … ”

For this book, she collaborated with her then-16-year-old son Brandon, who is an “aspiring illustrator/animator,” and a “gaming digital artist.”

The book took three years to complete, with two versions; the first, Leiviska explained, was based in reality.

“Then my son started to get involved and he posed the question: ‘What if it was a story about Lil Redfoo growing up with just his mother?’” Leiviska explained. “So then the white frame glasses appeared, and the colorful tech and weird bedroom was created, which led to Lil Redfoo’s dream of the island run by animals, and Dogalina came about.”

Looking to the future, Leiviska and Gordy are “toying around” with a coloring book, as well as a second book, starring Lil Redfoo and rescue animal caretaker Ily Oak (inspired by Gordy and Jasmine’s daughter), with a working title of “Lil Redfoo’s Party Train.”

“We pledge to always include music, plant-based lifestyle, animals and plenty of fun to share with your children,” they said in a statement. “Thank you for taking the time to read to your children.”

The book is available for purchase online, as well as at Keetan on Swarthmore Avenue. For more information, visit momfoo.com or follow Gordy on Instagram @redfoo.