I wrote ‘A Pea with a Purpose’ to teach children to respect our organic farms, to bond with organic foods, and discover how long a journey they have from farm to family (table). While the journey to fall in love with Perry the pea teaches many lessons, I wanted children to be an active part in growing, shopping, choosing, cooking, and eating raw vegetables and fruits. I hope it leads families to organic whole foods. Perry’s dream of being in a pot pie can be recreated in the recipe at the end of the book…so you can get your wee ones hands-on with their foods.
I have thirteen year old twins. My daughter, Laran, doesn’t like peas and one night while gathered around the table, she left a few on her plate. She proceeded to scurry to the sink to swipe them into the garbage disposal but instead of falling to the gaping disposal, they sat upon the edge staring back at her. I went on to tell her about the peas long and arduous journey they had from farm to family. As the organic lecture ensued I was compelled to sit and write about Perry’s journey the next day. One event let to another and then I met my illustrator, Liesel Schmidt. Our friendship was born from a tragic event and we are thankful because it became the opportunity that produced her beautiful talents merging into Perry’s perfect pea face.
I am starting a series of children’s books relating to gardening, heirloom seeds, non-GMO foods, and further organic themes. I pray it inspires us as adults to lead our children in the right direction so they can stand up for their right to grow, purchase, and consume foods that sustain health and a long life.
We hope you fall in love with Perry and his friend Winston, celebrate his family as you think of yours, and inspire children to learn more about the journey our organic foods make from farm to their table. Please help us share our story: Purchase a copy and donate to a school or library, share our page on social networks, write us a review, or tag us in your pictures of the book…every bit of ‘book-love’ helps us get our story out and in the hands of children.
“To Perry, a small, organic English pea, the world seems a little scary. He knows that not everything in the world is good. If he’s not careful, leaving the safety of his pod could mean being thrown away, left on the floor, or even tossed into the garbage disposal. Even so, Perry is excited to start his life’s journey.”
Perry the Pea has more than he knows within him, and he must discover it and share it with the world. With the help and love of his mum and the rest of his family, Perry comes to realize that he has a destiny to fulfill. Along with his new friend, Winston, Perry follows the process of an organic pea and makes his way to the home of a family! Come along on his life’s journey…
A Pea with a Purpose celebrates sharing with others, learning to love, building self-esteem, and holding your dream close to your heart.
Michelle Voizin has taught others to celebrate their gifts. It is through her own life’s journey that she has brought Perry to print. She, her husband, Michael, and her twins, Connor and Laran, create wonderful lessons and comical dynamics that inspire her to share her characters with the world. She is from Reedsburg, WI and Harbor Springs, MI and currently resides in Florida and is working on the next book in the journey of organic foods.