NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (December 2018) -- Jada Scott,
a 10-year-old student at Homer Pittard Campus School, will celebrate the
release of her first book, "Talking Planets: The Night Problem," with
an astronomy talk and signing on Dec. 15 (Saturday) at Metro Parks' Shelby
Bottoms Nature Center in Nashville.
Her
talk is part of the "Winter Star Party" event hosted by the center
with the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society. The free event will occur from
6:30-8:30 p.m. The center is located at 1900 Shelby Bottoms Greenway near
downtown Nashville.
The
young author has dreamed of writing a book ever since she attended a space camp
at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Attendees of the
event will enjoy a book reading and PowerPoint presentation.
 |
| Jada Scott (center) celebrates the release of her new book, "Talking Planets," with a flight crew from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center during a storytelling and book signing at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro (Photo by Chuck Whiting) |
"I
was curious about space after I visited the Rocket Center and the Adventure
Science Center, so I decided to write a book," said Jada, who plans to be
a rocket ship designer/engineer when she grows up. "I enjoy learning about
science and planets, so I thought the book would give other kids a way to learn
what I learned."
The
fifth grader takes readers on an adventurous journey through the solar system
aboard her red, white and purple rocket. She brings the sun, nearby planets,
moon, and even a black hole to life with insightful facts and original artwork. The book, which is published by In Due
Season Publishing, is available for $10.95 at online retail sites including
Amazon.com.
"It
feels great to release my first book," said Jada. "It's good to know
I am helping my community learn about space-based facts."
While
reading "Talking Planets," space travelers learn what it would be
like to visit our sun and planetary neighbors. Here are a few of her
observations.
* Mercury is
blazing hot on one side and freezing cold on the other.
* Meanwhile,
Venus reaches a high temperature of 864 degrees, way too hot for a long stay.
* Astronauts
on her rocket learn that Mars is pestered by a chaotic asteroid belt while
being menaced by passing spaceships with bright cameras.
* By the time her rocket reaches Jupiter, space
travelers are itchy from all of the storms they observe in the Great Red Spot.
At the end
of her book, Jada invites readers of all ages to join her on a space bus for
more exploration. She created a mixed media image of her bus with metal markers
and paper. The future rocket scientist used pencil to develop the concepts for
another two-dozen original illustrations, including the rocket, sun and
planets. Readers even get to meet a NASA engineer.
"It is
important because it is good to know where our Earth came from and its
surrounding planets," the fifth grader added. "Without, the solar
system, the Earth would not be the way it is. For example, without the Sun, we
would freeze to death and without the Moon, our seasons would not be correct.
My book represents an easier way to understand planets and the solar system so
all ages can understand and enjoy it."
"Talking
Planets" is already receiving "blast-off" reviews.
"This book written by a 10-year-old
phenomenal girl is a wonderful look into the galaxy like no other
perspective," raves Jada's aunt, Tennessee State University Professor
Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton. "It allows the readers to not only hear
the voices of the planets but uses that journey to experience a wealth of
knowledge that most people including myself didn't know. As a professor at a
major institution and an author, little Ms. Scott has captured the voices of
the planets in a great imaginary journey that I can visit over and over
and still get excited. A must-read for young readers and a must gift."
Fellow
Homer Pittard student Naomi Crowell
says she loves "Talking Planets" because "it talks about things
people don't usually talk about, and she inspires a lot of young people by
writing such a great book."
Another
classmate, Emma Griffith, describes
the book as a "delightful mix of fact and fiction."
