Children's author with local roots touts importance of healthy eating
Harmony native and author Cynthia Wylie recently visited the elementary school where she grew up to talk about vegetables, both growing them and eating them.
Wylie read to students at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary from her book “Bloomers Island: The Great Garden Party,” which promotes a healthy lifestyle.
The tale was born out of a need to try to get her own four children to eat vegetables.
Wylie created the colorful “Bloomers” characters like Pete Moss, Rosey Posey and Professor Sage to assist her in this endeavor.
The California author was born in Harmony and grew up on a farm on Little Creek Road until her family moved to a new farm in Renfrew in her later teen years.
She went to Seneca Valley High School and was North Washington Rodeo Queen in 1976.
She went on to Penn State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics. She also received a master's degree in economics from Georgetown University.
The first book of a series, “Bloomers Island, The Great Garden Party,” launched in January.Follow up stories “Rosey Posey and the Perfectly Pink Radish” and “Pete Moss and the Super Strong Spinach” were released in April, all created and co-authored by Wylie and Courtney Carbone. The books are illustrated by Katya Longhi.Wylie continues to have appearances in the Butler County area, including two over the Memorial Day weekend.The first event will be Saturday at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh.Wylie will be a featured presenter at Phipps' Discovery Garden Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.The second event will be on Sunday at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.A Story Time and Planting Party with the author is planned for noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.“Bloomers Island” The Great Garden Party” and its follow-up books are published by Rodale Kids, a division of Penguin and Random House Books.They are targeted to children younger than 10 and are available in both digital and hard copies.
