Here’s an email from Jeremiah!
–
Hi my name is Jeremiah and I am reaching out to you. To give you some positive wonderful feedback. (The Big idea Gang: Bee the Change). Was a very good and nice book. Furthermore I would highly recommend an individual to read this book. In addition because the book has much information regarding cycles of bees. Also I would recommend an individual to read this book because it has quality information about bee’s lifestyles. The details of the book were also splendid and terrific.
–
I replied:
–
Jeremiah,
–
Thank you for your kind email and, also, for simply reading my book. That’s all any writer can wish for: a reader!
–
I’m very happy with the three books in my “Big Idea Gang” series. For unknown reasons, those three books are beginning to get more attention of late. I think teachers are beginning to find them.
–
While I tried to make these stories easy to read, fast and funny and hopeful — that is, to tell a good story — I’ve also had a second agenda: I’ve always seen these books as political. A practical to guide to improving our world.
–
How do we make the world a better place? It’s a daunting question. Overwhelming. So the idea proposed in these books is to start small, act locally, make small differences in your community. For young readers, that’s the school environment. Install a buddy bench into the playground. Change the school mascot. Plant an eco-friendly garden. The key to positive change is overcoming all the objections that come our way. Any time folks hope for change, there’s going to be pushback, reasons for doing nothing. That’s where the persuasive writing element comes into play. Anticipating and overcoming objections is a big part of any move toward progress, big or small — in politics and in persuasive writing.
–
–
–
After a long winter, I’ll be helping my wife and daughter start a new garden. They’ve already got some seeds going inside the house. I’ll need to check the fencing — those pesky rabbits can sneak through the smallest openings. They want help expanding it; we might even rent a rototiller! And we’ll consider the bees and birds when we plant.
–
Will it change the world?
–
Well, yeah, a little tiny bit. Just imagine if we all tried to do the same. As always, it begins very simply with one person who cares.
Caring, you see, is everything. It’s where all the good work begins.
—
Thank you!
–
James Preller
–
–
