Whoa! Blue Betty!

Betty, always hiding, is a shy fish, but she secretly wishes to be as bold as her brightly colored fins. When Betty notices Berkie, a shy girl who is also hidden, she is aware of their similarities. A striking blue fish and a girl with brilliant blue eyes form a friendship for life.

Betty, the Betta fish, is striking with blue and purple flowing fins. However, despite her appearance, she prefers to hide behind the plant in her tank. She dreams of the day she is as bold as her brightly colored fins and has a loving family to appreciate her beauty. One day while hiding in her tank, Betty notices a young girl shopping with her mother. The girl, Berkie, has beautiful bright blue eyes; however, she prefers to hide behind her mother's shopping basket. Betty and Berkie quickly notice they are both shy and form an instant bond. Betty worries when Berkie's mother leaves the aisle, but is reassured when Berkie reaches for her tank. A forever friendship is born.

Hayley Cronin is a mother, nurse, and self proclaimed favorite daughter-in-law of the illustrator, Deborah Cronin. Whoa! Blue Betty! is her first children's book. Her love of creative writing began with her grandma's poetry, and flourished during the pandemic with the adoption of Betty, the Betta fish. She lives in California with her husband and two daughters.