Catherine Anderson-Barnes, a native Minnesotan, has over 25 years of experience in health and nutrition education with University of Minnesota Extension and Grant County. She has instructed all age groups; however, her love and passion is with educating young children. She especially enjoys teaching children valuable life lessons and seeing the expressions on their faces when they have learned something new.

Although Catherine cherished her position as a health and nutrition educator, she resigned from this position near the end of 2020 to care for her late husband who was declining from Alzheimer’s disease. During this time, she remained passionate about working with children and was inspired to write a series of children’s books focused on health and wellness that incorporate the ABC’s. Her ABC books have been used and recommended by parents, grandparents, teachers, doctors, and health coaches to help children learn the importance of good nutrition and physical activity in an amazingly creative way. With several learning opportunities in each book, accompanied with mesmerizing artwork and illustrations, children are sure to be captivated with each turn of the page!

Not only will children and adults find this series incredibly enjoyable but there is a uniquely valuable added “Parent Piece” for parents and caregivers, which is designed to aid in the optimization of children’s educational experience.

Catherine will forever owe a debt of gratitude to her main illustrator/graphic designer, Elena Shelest, from Belarus. Without speaking each other’s language, they were able to undertake an enormously challenging endeavor and accomplish this amazing book series. Catherine is also extremely appreciative of graphic designer Brock Merritt, whose attention to detail furthered this book series’ successful realization.