Book Giveaway: FOOTPRINTS ACROSS THE PLANET by Jennifer Swanson

Jennifer Swanson has written a new non-fiction picture book, FOOTPRINTS ACROSS THE PLANET, published by  Reycraft Books on August 13th. She has agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Jennifer.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. If you want to make sure you don’t miss seeing that you won, please click “Notify Me of Follow-Up Comments by Email” box. I will leave a comment in reply if you win the book. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Every footprint―from the physical to the digital and the permanent to the fleeting―leaves a mark on Earth telling a story of the past, the present, or the future. What type of imprint will YOU leave? Journey around the world and experience through these vivid photographs how every being on the planet leaves an imprint, with their feet, their words, their actions. Whether human or animal, voices or activity, each mark has a purpose. To remind us of our history, give us a glimpse of our future, and maybe even inspire us to change the world. Perfect for the aspiring STEM activist in your life―those who want to change the world!

BOOK JOURNEY:

I’m excited to share my first ever trade picture book with you! If you are familiar with my work, you know that I tend to write much longer books (middle grade and YA), but this book was different. It had to be a picture book. You know when books “speak” to you? Well, this one said, “make me a picture book!” 😊

And I tried. A picture book is not easy to write (despite what people think), so it took me awhile to get this one exactly right. In fact, the book you see now is nothing like the story I first wrote. It has changed many times.

I never gave up because I knew this title was really good. I just needed to find the right story to go with it. This final version came about because I was inspired by a combination of events–the first March for Science and the Women’s March in 2017, watching young Greta Thunberg make a difference, and also being able to listen to the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsberg speak at the National Book Festival. I thought- WOW- look at all of these people making a huge impact on the world just by showing their support for something they are passionate about.

THIS is what this book is about.

And yet, what better way relay this idea than to discuss the simplest way of making an impact—with a footprint. Everything on this planet, from animals, to erosion, to science to technology, and of course, people make an impact with every step they take. These steps mold and change our planet forming its past, present, and future.

Pretty cool idea, isn’t it? Just think, every time you take a step, you are making an imprint on the Earth. Makes you feel sort of powerful, doesn’t it. Like you should strive to DO something with that impact.

So, how did I end up taking that rather large idea and turning it into a 150-word picture book? This story just wrote itself, actually while I was on a bike ride one day. It’s true! I was taking a break from work and started on my 5-mile bike ride. As I was enjoying being outside—and away from the computer for once—the words started forming in my brain. They just kept coming, line after line. They were so good, that I knew I had to stop and write them down. But I didn’t have paper or pen. So, I texted them to myself. We all know that if you don’t listen when your muse speaks and write it down, you’ll never remember them.

If anyone was watching me ride that day, they would have thought, what is wrong with that woman? Why does she keep stopping and texting? Is her conversation that important that it can’t wait? Yes. It was.

I hope you enjoy this book. If nothing else, the images are STUNNING! The art director at Reycraft Books took my suggested images and made them even more beautiful than I could have imagined. When I saw the layouts for the first time, I was speechless and actually teared up.  I can’t imagine my words coming alive in any other way than through these awesome photographs.

Finally, I’ve been asked where this book should fit in a library. I see this book equally as an activism book and a STEM book. The activism part is self-evident, but perhaps the STEM part is not so much. To me, STEM, by its very definition is diverse and implies involvement, through curiosity, awareness, and yes, even supporting and standing up for what is right. When I talk to kids about STEM, I want them to think not only about how it is all around them all the time, but I invite them to participate in it. This can be through observation, experimentation, or whatever way they feel comfortable interacting with it. STEM is about doing things, not just learning them. It is my hope that this book will gets kids– of all ages– thinking their impact on the Earth.

What type of imprint will YOU leave?

JENNIFER’S BIO:

Jennifer Swanson began her writing career at the age of five when she wrote and illustrated books for her kindergarten class. A self-professed science geek, Jennifer started a science club in her garage at the age of 7. She used to gather leaves and flowers and look at them under a microscope. Much to her mother’s dismay, her prize possession was a cow skull that she found in a field down by the river.

Her love of science continues to this day as when she is not writing, she loves to go out and notice the science all around her. Jennifer lives in Jacksonville with her husband and two dogs. Learn more about Jennifer at her website: http://www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com

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Jennifer, thank you for sharing your book and journey. I love that this book tries to broaden children’s brains with new concepts and I expect it will help kids see the world from a different prespective, so they can help humans build a better world. Best of luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy