Skip to main content

Richly illustrated picture book encourages children to eat their veggies!



A family friend shared a secret with VS Grenier when she was little. The secret was how to whistle. However, she only shared it with her children…until now!

Children have a hard time learning to whistle. However, there is a secret and VS Grenier shares it in the latest SugarPaw adventure picture book, “Whistle Beans.” But how can vegetables help and what do they have to do with whistling? 

“When I about four or five, Charlie Baker, a family friend, told me that if I ate Whistle Beans, I’d be able to whistle just like him,” said Grenier. “Charlie was like my second dad when I was younger. He taught me how to fish, ride a horse and much more. So it only made since when he shared the secret to a good whistle, it had to be true. Only problem was…Whistle Beans are a part of the vegetable family. I soon got over this little fact and I’ve been able to whistle good and loud ever since.”

Children will get to go on another adventure with SugarPaw and Bonnie Whiskers, two of VS Grenier’s beloved characters from her award-winning picture book, “Babysitting SugarPaw.” This time SugarPaw finds himself in trouble when he lets out Bonnie Whiskers pet parrot Cesar. They end up chasing Cesar all over town and in the process; SugarPaw learns secrets about the vegetable growing in his own backyard.

“I wanted a fun way to teach children not only the importance of eating healthy, but also some unknown facts about vegetables,” said Grenier. “My kids had fun helping me research some of the different veggies in my book. They even gave me different ideas of how to share our family secret about Whistle Beans.”

Through exploring the world of vegetables with SugarPaw and Bonnie Whiskers, children gain a deeper understanding of healthy eating in a fun and silly way. “Whistle Beans” exposes children to an unexpected new way of looking at those leafy greens. While building confidence, critical thinking skills and strong whistles. Of course, SugarPaw will be up to his usually antics and will have kids laughing, too.

“This picture book isn’t only for children. Parents and educators will find in the back of the book Fresh Facts about the different vegetables in the story. Each vegetable plays an important part in helping SugarPaw and Bonnie Whiskers find Cesar, and this section gives information on why that is,” said Halo Publisher Lisa M. Umina.

You can purchase “Whistle Beans: Another SugarPaw Adventure” through Halo Publishing’s website (http://halopublishing.com), Amazon, B&N or you can purchase your autographed book from the author’s website http://vsgrenier.com

About the Author:
VS Grenier is an award-winning author and a Mom’s Choice Honoree, who loves spinning tales from her childhood into adventures in the World of Ink for children of all ages to enjoy. When she isn’t busy writing, playing dress-up or having tea parties with her girls, she takes long hikes in the desert with her miniature schnauzer, Taz. 
You can learn more about the VS Grenier at http://vsgrenier.com

About the Illustrator:
Kevin Scott Collier is a commercial artist/designer by profession as well as an author and illustrator of over 130 children's books. He lives in beautiful Grand Haven, a quaint port city along the Lake Michigan shoreline with his wife, Kristen and son, Jarod.

You can learn more about Kevin Scott Collier at http://kevinscottcollierhomepage.blogspot.com

Whistle Beans: Another SugarPaw Adventure written by VS Grenier and illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier, publisher Halo Publishing, Int., ISBN: 978-1612443676 (paperback) ; Price: $10.95 (paperback); $16.99 (Hard cover) $4.95 (eBook)

Review copies, cover and author photography and interviews are available upon request.

Contact: Ann Stallard at annstallard@worldofinknetwork.com

Popular posts from this blog

Interview Friday: Natasha Yim & Gretchen Maurer

Natasha Yim is a children's book author and freelance writer. Her first book, Otto's Rainy Day was published by Charlesbridge Publishing in 2000. It was selected as a Kids' Pick of the Lists. She has written for Highlights for Children, Appleseeds and Faces magazines, and her new picture book biography, Cixi, The Dragon Empress was released by Goosebottom Books in October 2011. Gretchen Maurer's writing has been published in Frances Mayes' The Discovery of Poetry, and in Adventure Cyclist and Highlights for Children magazines. She also co-wrote a short film, Alma, that has won multiple awards. Mary Tudor, "Bloody Mary" is her first picture book. She lives in Northern California with her family. Natasha Yim’s current book, Cixi, The Dragon Empress and Gretchen Maurer’s current book, Mary Tudor, “Bloody Mary” are two of the six books (all written by different authors) in Goosebottom Books’ series, The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames. The seri...

Interview: Meet Author Sands Hetherington, Author of Night Buddies, A Lights Out Adventure Series for Kids - Books - Blogcritics

Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years. He and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the Night Buddies series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. Sands shared, “We always did bedtime stories and probably didn't miss a night for six or seven years. Stories were as essential as air and food.” It’s no wonder Sands loves to read and write, and is a big advocate in starting a reading schedule with young children. Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. However, he started writing at a very young age. “I think it was 10th grade. I handed in some sappy poetical piece and the very cute student teacher gushed over it. Her name was Ellen and she was spoken for, but that did it...