Dan and Mary Nance of Oskaloosa are celebrating the release of their first children’s book, Greubie and the Cats, which was published by the Write Place this fall. Enlivened by illustrations from local artist Victoria Peterson-Laird, this heartwarming tale of the enduring power of friendship is perfect for young readers and animal lovers alike.
Based on a true story, Greubie and the Cats is about a lovable dog named Greubie who is adopted by a farm family. While exploring her new forever home, she meets kittens Tom, Lippy, Socks, and Fluffy. They become fast friends, and Greubie comes to believe she is a cat, too. However, their newfound bond is tested by Buddy, a mean dog who lives down the road. Will Buddy spill the kibble that Greubie is really a dog? And what will Greubie and her friends do when they find out the truth?
Twenty years ago, the Nances had a beagle-basset hound mix they named Greubie. Just like her fictional counterpart, the real-life Greubie had a strong bond with the cats on their farm. “She would only come to eat when someone called, ‘Kitty, kitty, kitty,’” said Dan. “Over the years, we’ve told stories about Greubie and her cats to anyone who would listen. So we are very excited to share Greubie and the Cats with readers—especially our granddaughter, Vanessa, who loves books.”
Greubie and the Cats is available for purchase at local bookstores and on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. It is Dan and Mary Nance’s first book, and the first installment in a planned series.
