Peter and the Whimper-Whineys Coloring Book

By: Sherrill S. Cannon
Illustrated by: Kalpart
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Publication Date: June 2020
ISBN: 978-1-952269-68-4
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: July 2020

Prolific, and very successful, children’s book author Sherrill S. Cannon is at it again, with another fun and engaging adventure, but with a twist...this one isn’t just a great story, but also a coloring book.

Peter is a cute little rabbit, living in a house near the woods with his mother and sister. While he’s adorable, he does have a problem – he complains about everything. He whines, he gets grumpy, and he cries. Nothing seems to make him happy. At dinner that night, he complains about his sister having more soup, more jelly for her roll, and gosh darn it, it just wasn’t right.

Peter’s mother had already warned him that if he kept up his grumpy attitude, the “Whimper-Whineys” would come looking for him.

“If you can’t stop that whining, I very much fear
That the old Whimper-Whineys will look for you here.
You’ll go live with them in a land far away,
Where you’ll join them in whining and crying all day.”

The little rabbit didn’t listen to his mother and soon he was sent to his room to sulk and think about his poor attitude. Looking out the window, he wished he was in the woods beyond his home. Instantly, he was transported into the woods where he soon met...a Whimper-Whiney. Peter was about to learn just what being a whiner was all about from a group of woodland men who were nothing short of professional whiners. Would Peter learn that complaining about everything was not a good way to live one’s life?

Peter and the Whimper-Whineys is based on a story the author’s mother told her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. With the urging of her own children, Sherrill Cannon worked her magic to bring the story of Peter and the Whimper-Whineys to life in a very imaginative way. The story is lighthearted, and the author has mastered the very difficult technique of telling a story in rhyme without the text feeling forced – not an easy feat! While once again partnering with Kalpart for the illustrative work, the difference with this book is that the pictures aren’t colored, but rather simple line-drawings, leaving the coloring up to the child's imagination. The added coloring activity will likely spark more creative play around the concept of Whimper-Whineys and the negative impact of complaining all the time.

Quill says: Peter learns a big lesson in his adventure with the Whimper-Whineys, a lesson that he wants to share with others. It’s a lesson that your kids will love learning, while they color each page.

For more information on Peter and the Whimper Whineys Coloring Book, please visit the publisher's website at: sbprabooks.com.sherrillscannon