Thomas Sandusky—Author

(cont’d)

Late in my teaching career, I showed Dr. Seuss’s, The Lorax, on the day before a holiday break. Normally, the kids are wound-up the day before vacation and it’s hard to get their attention. But, guess what? They were transfixed by the story. Not a word was said by the students during the presentation and at the end of class my jaw dropped to the floor. I said to myself, “Stories, I should teach through stories.” I changed lectures to small stories and the kids were engaged.

I retired from teaching but still had a calling to alert kids and parents about the destruction of the world’s forests. This is when Stories from the Rainforest began. I ‘m writing picture book stories about the creatures of the Amazon rainforest and also young adult thrillers that focus on the political issues of saving rainforests. These stories are the foundation of an environmental science curriculum I’m creating for elementary and secondary students. I love to tell my stories to children and adults. I hope the stories and curriculum help develop an ethic that rainforests are important and need to be saved.

Kathy Hill–Author

(cont’d)

And then, my neighbor and friend, Tom, asked

if I would join him in writing a children’s series of books about the rainforest.

Tom makes up a story board for the book and gives it to me. I do the rhyme and Gretchen does the beautiful drawings. I love rhyming stories about the rainforest.

I hope you all realize that you have a gift and when you find it, never let it go. Enjoy our stories.