When I think of Whoopi Goldberg,  I tend to visualize a rockin’ nun not a children’s author.   But in fact,  Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Toeshoe Trouble, released yesterday,  is her second Sugar Plum Ballerinas book. (Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic was published in October of last year.)

The Sugar Plum Ballerina books centre around friendships, being true to yourself, thinking before you speak and overcoming fears.

About Toeshoe Trouble:

A ballet slipper-ey slope

Brenda Black prides herself on her logical and orderly mind. She studies anatomy books to get a twelve-year head start on medical school, and she idolizes Leonardo da Vinci. But things go haywire when her spoiled cousin Tiffany comes to visit. At first Brenda tries to ignore Tiffany’s constant bragging. But when Tiffany implies that Brenda is not cultured enough to know who Miss Camilla Freeman is–Miss Camilla Freeman, the very famous prima ballerina–Brenda snaps. She tells Tiffany that not only does she know who Camilla Freeman is, but she happens to own an autographed pair of her toeshoes. So of course, Tiffany wants to see the shoes.

The only problem? The shoes actually belong to Ms. Debb, the headmistress of the Nutcracker School! Brenda’s anatomy books might get her into medical school, but they can’t get her out of this mess–for that, she’ll need the help of her Sugar Plum Sisters!

Watch an interview with Whoopi where she discusses her new book and talks about overcoming her own fear of flying.