Book by San Diego students celebrates local species
nce again children throughout San Diego county have
produced a charming collection of essays, poems and drawings about local
native plants and animals. Special Species by California Kids is
a new, 80-page volume completely created by children that describes 50 species
of plants and animals - from bats, bobcats and bighorn sheep to whales,
wrens and yuccas. The project started in San Diego County and is now operating
statewide.
Now in its fourth year, the Special Species project
teams classrooms with nature-based organizations and businesses that help
the kids do their research before they prepare their written and artistic
works for publication.
Advisors for the new fourth edition include the National
Audubon Society, the California Native Plant Society, the California Department
of Parks and Recreation, the Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum, the San Diego
Zoo, the Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon, the San Diego Natural
History Museum, the Miramar Naval Air Station, the San Diego Department
of Parks and Recreation, Sea World's Hubbs Institute, Project Wildlife and
the San Diego Environments Project.
The project relies on book sales to raise funds to underwrite
future editions. The Nature Company has agreed to carry Special Species
books in all of its locations statewide, with half of the $14.95 price going
directly to the project. Any nature-based organization or business wishing
to sell boks to help raise funds is invited to call the Special Species
project at 1-800-ESTUARY. At a wholesale price of $7, the sales benefit
the project and the business or organization.
The project was founded by Barbara "Ms. B"
Moran, a professional science, nature and environmental writer. The project
was designed to teach children about careers and responsible earth stewardship
and has received awards including the KGTV-10 Leadership Award, the Newsweek/Amway
Environmental Class Act Award and the Sierra Club Activist Award.
For information on how to get involved as an advisor,
teacher, retailer or to buy books directly from the project, call the number
above or write to: Ms. B, P.O. Box 3356, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.
