When Violet was Blue


Children - Concept
38 Pages
Reviewed on 05/01/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Deb Troehler has worn many hats over the years—teacher, award winning fabric artist, author, illustrator, designer, mother, and grandmother. Although each hat is unique, they are all stitched with a common thread—Deb’s connections to the world and the people in her life.

With 15 years as a special education teacher, Deb taps into her educational experience to create heartwarming stories, creative teaching tools, and a variety of teaching strategies for use in the classroom. After leaving the classroom due to a return of cancer, Deb moved to West Michigan to spend time with her husband’s family. To help make ends meet, she wrote instructional material and stories for several trade magazines such as Doll Crafter, Doll Reader, and Soft Dolls and Animals. Eventually, the magic of West Michigan motivated Deb to put pen to paper and record the stories inspired by her treks up and down the shores of Lake Michigan. When Deb’s stories were requested by magazines and a private publisher, she felt encouraged to take the plunge into the world of children’s book publishing. Her first book, Chipo’s Gift, is a tribute to a friend that had emigrated from South Africa.

When her grandson was born, Deb and her husband returned to Virginia to be closer to her growing family. Sadly, shortly after they left Michigan, Deb and her husband lost their beloved Ella, the best mother-in-law and mother anyone could hope to have. This great loss encouraged Deb to publish her next literary offering—Sometimes Snow Falls in the Summer, a gentle tale of a granddaughter’s visit to her Nana’s home. If you happen to read this book, look closely at the framed picture hanging behind Nana’s chair. The cross-stitched artwork contained within the frame was created by Deb’s mother-in-law, Ella.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

When Violet Was Blue is a children's concept book written and illustrated by Deb Troehler. It's raining out, and a big cloud has covered the sun. Little Violet is not at all happy. Without the sun's light, her lovely violet color is now blue. She asks her friend Indigo Pete to hold her up so she can push away the cloud, but it's too high up for the two of them. They ask the other colors to help out and form a tall chain, one on top of the other, but it's too hard to hold steady, and the colors all tumble onto the ground. Cloud feels badly when he sees them fall and tells them to stand in line and then bend to form a rainbow. Now, when the sun shines through the raindrops, there's a lovely rainbow with each color shining bright and true.

Deb Troehler's children's book, When Violet Was Blue, will have children and adults alike smiling as they read of Violet and her friends' efforts to reach Cloud and scatter him. Troehler also illustrated this book and her illustrations, especially her grumpy Cloud, are just marvelous. Parents will appreciate the simple and beautiful way Troehler explains how rainbows are made and how working together can help get lots of seemingly impossible things accomplished. They'll also love the science facts, projects, and math games that are included in the back of the book. When Violet Was Blue is fun, enlightening, and educational, and best of all, it does make one smile while reading it.