Hi, Dr. O'Neil. Welcome to Writers4Higher!
1. Tell
me about yourself. Your book(s), your life, your inspiration.
Who is the Little
Green Guide?
The
inspiration for this book was my Little Green Guide, my grandson, John
Riley. John Riley loves to spend time
outdoors. He is happiest when he is
running and playing in nature. His
natural curiosity about things makes him an eager learner. When I wrote this
book he was 2 ½ years old. He never
ceases to amaze me with what he remembers and asks about when we play
outside. He is also very excited to
share his discoveries with anyone who will listen.
That is the very definition of a Little Green
Guide: a little one who loves being out
in nature and sharing the magic of it with others and helping to insure that it
will be there for the next generation to enjoy. My intent is writing this book was to
instill both a love of the outdoors and a love of sharing what they learn about
nature with others.
I
hold a doctorate in Education and Human Development from Boston
University. I am an Associate Professor
of Early Childhood Education and a Certified Green Guide. I enjoy exploring nature with my grandson
John Riley.
2. Where
do you see your writing taking you in the future?
I
hope to do a series of books about “The Little Green Guide.” The next book I hope to write is “The Little
Green Guide Goes to the Beach.”
3. How do you use your talents/time to help
others?
I
took a “Green Guide” course through Tallahassee Community College last fall
semester and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I
learned about the many benefits of getting outdoors, including less stress, more
fun and an appreciation of the environment. I now want to share that love of nature with others and help insure that
nature’s beauty will be there for the next generation to enjoy.
http://www.kendallhunt.com/little_green_guide/
Nature is a child’s greatest playground. It is free, it
is available twenty-four hours a day and it is right outside your window.
Sadly, playing outdoors is becoming a lost art! A recent survey found that half
of the adults polled had played outside at least seven times a week when
growing up, while only 23 percent of their children do that now.
Children love being out in nature and sharing the magic
of it with others, while helping to insure that it will be there for the next
generation to enjoy.
The Little Green Guide is a valuable story and activities
manual that encourages teachers, parents, and family to get outside with their
preschoolers (little green guides) to explore nature and have fun!
Not only will spending more time outdoors provide
children with life-long benefits, parents and teachers will reap many rewards
themselves! Bonds will be strengthened, all will learn more about nature, and
be pleasantly surprised how some outdoor time can improve one’s mood (as well
as blood pressure)!
The
Little Green Guide
includes easy-to-understand lesson plans that can be adapted to any preschool
setting as most classrooms have children at a number of different developmental
stages. In addition, the activities can be used verbatim or may be customized
to fit individual needs. Teachers and parents are encouraged to use their imagination
as much as the children use theirs!
