Book Birthday Blog with Carrie Pearson

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Carrie Pearson on the release of Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings

 

  

How did you get the idea for your book? 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched the streamed stage play Hamilton six times. I loved everything about it — the plot, historical information, actors, and music. On the sixth viewing, I listened to the song “The Room Where It Happens” (again), but this time, I had a light bulb moment. I envisioned writing a book called The Womb Where It Happens that would include the latest research and understanding of animal beginnings. It would combine my love of science, babies, and animals, and share a world that most of us don’t know or think about but is happening around us every second of every day. During the editorial process, we changed the title because we didn’t think it would resonate with middle-grade readers. But we received A LOT of positive feedback about it during the submission stage. Title takeaway? Traditionally publishing authors will likely take part in modifying their titles. It happens all the time. But a grabby title is essential for the submission process.  

This is your first middle grade book. Did the research require a different approach than your non-fiction picture books? Please describe. 

Great question! Yes, this is my debut middle-grade book. (WOW, novelists get so many words!) But the research process wasn’t different from writing a picture book. I go very deep into research, regardless of the age category or format, for three reasons: I want to provide accurate information, I enjoy discovery, and I never want to be caught off guard during the vetting process.

Lest anyone thinks the creator’s journey is straightforward, here’s an inside story about Watch Them Grow. I initially wrote it, and we submitted the manuscript as a picture book. Then, a bucket list editor, Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press/Lerner (the amazing Buffy Silverman’s editor), expressed interest in it as a middle-grade book. We said yes, and I rewrote it for middle-grade readers and the educational market rather than the commercial market. These changes required extra work to align the text with science curriculum standards and to connect with the mindset of independent readers.  

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

I hope readers will develop a more profound sense of empathy for our animal family. The book shows how all animals, including humans, start life in a similar way, which is striking when we think about how different we all become. I hope this connection encourages young people to care about animals and their environments that need our protection. 

What are your marketing plans for the book? 

Marketing kicked off a few months ago with new Watch Them Grow Pinterest boards and pins and an educator guide, all created by Debbie Gonzalez and PinLit. These assets set the stage for integrated blog posts and my newsletter book launch issue today. The free educator guide has been kept under wraps until the newsletter drops and subscribers have first access.

You are all invited to the book launch at Peter White Public Library in Marquette, MI, on Saturday, September 13, at 2:00 PM. I’ve created a new school and library presentation that I look forward to sharing (aka: trying out) with middle-schoolers. I’ve reached out to all the teachers I’ve presented to or connected with over the years to share the news of the book. You are keeping a list of people you’ve connected with, right? If not, start today. 

What's next for you? 

I am hoping that a nonfiction picture book we have on submission finds its home. I’m working on a nonfiction middle-grade proposal on a challenging topic, but if I do it correctly, I believe it can be hopeful in the end. Fingers crossed for that. I have several ideas rattling around, so we’ll see what ends up being sticky enough to become the next book! 

More about the book . . .

Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings


Have you ever wondered how animals develop the traits they need to survive? Or how they grow from a single cell at conception to complex, unique creatures? The answer is complicated―there are so many ways to grow! The tammar wallaby needs a strong grip at birth so it can climb into its mother's pouch. And the great white shark needs a special set of teeth. Watch Them Grow explores genetics, gestation, and development with twelve animal examples. Discover animal beginnings and watch as they grow what they need to survive. 

Published by: Lerner/Millbrook Press 

More about the author . . . 

Carrie A. Pearson is an award-winning children’s author who writes nonfiction books that connect young readers with science, nature, and hidden histories. As an early childhood educator, Carrie knows how to break down big ideas in fun and accessible ways. Her authored books, such as Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings, spark curiosity and support learning in the classroom and at home. 
 
Her authored books have received distinctions such as Junior Library Guild Gold, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, and CCBC Choices listing, as well as state honors and awards. Her greatest honor was receiving the 2019 Michigan Reading Association’s Gwen Frostic Award for literacy development.
 
Carrie lives on the sandy shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where she writes, researches, and occasionally rescues stray ideas from the woods. Discover more about Carrie and her books at https://carriepearsonbooks.com/.

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