Thanks for joining us today for a special cover reveal of an upcoming nonfiction picture book that is going to have a big impact around the world. I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon is co-authored by Miranda and Baptiste Paul, and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.
It releases February 5, 2019 from Lerner Publishing Group’s Millbrook Press.
The synopsis:
When Tantoh Nforba was a child, he loved the dirt and all that grew in his grandmother’s garden. In school, his fellow students mocked him by calling him Farmer. His older brother told him to study hard so he could one day get a job in an office. But Tantoh knew that wasn’t the right path for him.
Today Tantoh is proud to call himself Farmer. Farmer Tantoh is an environmental leader, bringing clean water and bountiful organic gardens to the central African nation of Cameroon. He is also the founder of the international charity Save Your Future Association. Authors Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul traveled through northwest Cameroon with Farmer Tantoh to see firsthand how his grassroots work is growing a movement. Elizabeth Zunon’s intricate collage illustrations authentically bring to life this powerful story of community.
Before we reveal the cover, here are a few peeks inside the book I Am Farmer. About the artwork, Ms. Zunon says, ”I drew on my love of all things green, lush, botanical, and my wonder of the natural world in creating the illustrations for I Am Farmer. I’m always collecting colorful art papers and taking pictures of trees, flowers landscapes. I painted some of the stormier skies with watercolors, and used my botanical photographs as elements in Farmer’s gardens. I hope to engage the viewer in seeing this beautiful Earth through Farmer’s eyes, and mine!”
And now, here’s the cover of I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon.
And here’s the jacketflap for I Am Farmer, which includes a back-cover original quote from Farmer Tantoh himself:
“It doesn’t matter where you come from—you are never too small or insignificant to contribute to the long term sustainability of our planet. By doing simple things to the best of your ability, you are improving our world.” —Farmer Tantoh (founder of the Save Your Future Association)
If you’d like to hear him speak these words himself, watch this inspiring four-minute video about how he brings clean water to Cameroon’s villages and inspires organic gardens that reconnect people with the beauty of nature.
Please mark this book on your Goodreads to-read list, pre-order it from your favorite online or retail bookstore, or request that Farmer Tantoh himself visit your classroom or town next spring on the I Am Farmer Official Tour!
To learn more, check out I Am Farmer on Goodreads and Amazon. To learn about school visits, go here.
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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
What a stunning cover! I look forward to reading this next spring!
Hi Patricia,
I am excited for this book too!!!
Love Elizabeth’s art, and the Pauls books 🙂
Hi Maria,
I didn’t realize that the Pauls were married until this post! I am a fan of all their books so it makes me especially happy that they did this book together!
For more information on school visits, you can contact me directly at bookthepauls@gmail.com. I am the booking agent for Miranda & Baptiste Paul. We have a few openings still available.
Thanks for sharing that information Judy! What a wonderful experience to have Miranda and Baptiste in the classroom!!!