By diligently researching her topic and interviewing real experts, including children working to help preserve and protect local critters, Jennifer Keats Curtis has developed a knack for teaching young children about important ecological issues. Her first book, Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay, about oyster siblings’ quest to save their beloved Chesapeake Bay from pollution, won an award from the Maryland Council of Teachers of English Language Arts. Her second book, Turtles in My Sandbox, a finalist for the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award, has been incredibly well received in the schools and by the public. Her third book, Osprey Adventure, which is based on the heroics of a real-life Maryland biologist, will be available in Fall 2007. These days, Jennifer can be found plying her trade during in-school visits, as she helps teachers and students address literary issues as well as those pertaining to conservation of local animals. She also regularly presents writing workshops to elementary school students. When she’s not in schools, Jennifer contributes to several magazines and serves as editor-at-large for Maryland Life Magazine. Jennifer resides in the Annapolis, Maryland area, with her family, amidst several animals, most of them small.
Selected Reviews of Jennifer's Books
Turtles in My Sandbox
Jennifer Keats Curtis
Illustrated by Emanuel Schongut
Maggie is lucky enough to live near the water. So near, in fact, that a mother diamondbacked terrapin lays eggs in Maggie's old sandbox. Once Maggie discovers the eggs, the adventure is on! With the help of the Internet, Maggie and her mother hook up with "The Turtle Lady," who tells her how to protect the eggs. Suddenly Maggie is a terrapin-sitter. She places a wire cage over the eggs to keep predators out, then, fifty-five days later, watches the hatchlings emerge. Now the real work begins. Determined to give these hatchlings a head start, she keeps the nine babies in aquariums over the winter, feeding them cut-up fish and turtle pellets and keeping them warm with heat lamps. Finally, on the first day of summer, Maggie, her mother, the Turtle Lady, and wildlife experts all gather to release the tagged, healthy nine-month-old terrapins into the bay. Will the females come back years later to Maggie's sandbox? Only time will tell. This is a lovely book with charming illustrations. Pages (downloadable and photocopy permitted) labeled, "For Creative Minds" at the back of the book include turtle facts, a terrapin habitat craft, and information on the program and Web site designed to protect Maryland's state reptile. Best of all, the author donates part of her royalties to the Terrapin Institute. This book is ideal for an elementary classroom project! 2006, Sylvan Dell Publishing, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Judy Crowder (Children's Literature).
Kids love books and animals, so what could be better than a combination of the two?
Join children's author Jennifer Keats Curtis as she brings your elementary school students closer to the creatures in their own backyard though storybook settings in Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay, Turtles in My Sandbox, and Osprey Adventure. With props in hand - including a live diamondback terrapin named Rascal, Ms. Curtis lively explains the threats to local animals and young children's efforts to conserve them. Jennifer's fees begin at $250 for a single local presentation (Arnold, MD) her presentations generally last from 40 - 60 minutes. She is willing to address a large group of up to 400 students. She will give two presentations in a day.
To learn more about Jennifer and her publications please visit www.terrapinbook.com.
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