And you can make a difference too! - an interview with Suzanne Corso, author of "Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!"

"Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!" is not only a great children's book, but also a very inspirational one both for kids and their parents.

If you had a chance to read our review of the book you probably know already that a) this book is about a joint mother-daughter journey into the green world and b) Eco-Libris collaborates with the publisher, Beaufort Books, and the author, Suzanne Corso, to encourage the readers of this wonderful book to green up their reading and take a step to support the environment by planting a tree with us for their copy.

The book is already receiving enthusiastic feedback and endorsements. On March it was selected as Book of the Year by NWYA's NY Reads Program, which is a program of New York Women’s Agenda (NWYA), a city-wide book discussion based on the reading of one book selected each year.

We felt that there's much more to explore about this great book and interviewed the author, Suzanne Corso, about her muse, the shared green experiences with her daughter and what children like about this book.

(Suzanne Corso on the left in the launch party of the book with actress Lorraine Bracco. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Corso)

Hi Suzanne. Please tell us what brought you to write this book

My daughter, Samantha. She is 10 years old now and she came to me 2 years ago came to me asking questions about the environment and she also wanted me to write something with her, and the result is the 'Sammy and Sue' series.

What is your favorite part in it?

Experiencing it with my daughter - driving a hybrid car with her, going together to Whole Foods, changing bulbs to energy saving bulbs, etc. I enjoyed explaining to her while we were doing it and she enjoyed learning as kids like to learn through visuals.

You did this green journey together with your daughter. Did it bring you closer? do you recommend other parents to team together with their kids and explore the green world together?

Definitely. It's a win-win and I recommend it to every parent - take your children to journeys, explain to them about recycling, food, cars and so on and you'll find it not only helps to raise the awareness of your kids, but also brings you together.

What are the main changes that you and Samantha made in your daily life following your journey?

There are many changes. A major one is food. We eat better and healthier food. We have this pack where Samantha eats super well on week days and then on the weekends she can enjoy herself with whatever food she wants. Eventually, I find that even of the weekends she wants to eat good food.

How did it influence her?

She is much more aware now to environmental issues. She helps me to explain kids about green issues such as recycling. When it comes from her it definitely helps to reinforce the message.

What is the feedback you're getting?

I get great feedback from both parents and children. I'm a mother, not an expert and parents can easily relate to it and to the idea of taking baby steps to make a difference.

Do you think children are capable of understanding the issues at stake?

Yes. When we have reading events for kids they always have questions and want to learn more. The best way is to use simple terms and relate to daily activities they know such as brushing teeth (keep the faucet closed while we brush), recycling newspapers, and so on. In the book I added a glossary at the end to help simplify difficult terms.

This is your first children's book. How is it in comparison with other writing you did?

I wrote before the book a novel and a screenplay and I can say that once you're a writer, you can write anything. But here I'm also extending my writing into further activities for kids and I founded and serve as the chairwoman of Sammy and Sue Enterprises, LLC, which will design and market a 3-D virtual world filled with games for kids with environmental themes. We plan to offer the first games at the beginning of 2010.

What are the upcoming titles in the series?

The next title is "SAMMY & SUE WITH ELEPHANTS IN AFRICA TOO"!, which takes place in Africa and combines both environmental and animal themes, as it will also a journey to save the wild elephants in Africa. This book will be released in January 2010. The title afterwards will be SAMMY & SUE EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING TOO!.

Thanks, Suzanne!

You can read more about the book and the 'Sammy and Sue' series at www.sammyandsue.com

And if you're in New York on Saturday, you can meet Suzanne Corso at Barney's NY, where she'll have a signing event. Details are below.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

And we have a winner on 'Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!"

Thanks to all the participants in our giveaway of "Sammy & Sue Go Green Too!" following our review of this great new children's book written by Suzanne Corso. We got great replies to our question "how do you go green too with your kid?" and we have a winner!

The winner is Laureen who wrote the following:

"We do many things and constantly come up with ways to do more. We are very conscientious about our water use, not letting the faucet run at all, usually using cold water instead of warm (saving on electricity), flushing less often (unless necessary) ;), etc. We recycle together, walk whenever possible and always turn off lights when we do not absolutely need them. Thanks for this great giveaway!"

Congrats Laureen! You won a copy of the book, which is a gift of the publisher Beaufort Books. To those who didn't win (and all the rest) - I invite you to join our Facebook group, where we have every day a giveaway of green books, including couple copies of "Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!". Also if you want to meet the author of the “Sammy & Sue” book series, Suzanne Corso, and her daughter Samantha, you can do it at these upcoming readings of “Go Green Too!”. Check back dates of future events.

• GO GREENEXPO (April 17-20)
• Earth Week NYC - Grand Central Station (April 24)
• Barney’s New York (April 25)
• Ronald McDonald House (May 2)
• Book Expo America (May 28-30)
• NY Reads Together and the NYC Public Schools Reading Series (tbd)

You can find more details at http://www.sammyandsuellc.com

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Monday's green books series (part 1): Sammy & Sue Go Green Too! (and a giveaway)

This week we divide our Monday's green books series into two (and delay them a little bit..), as we bring you reviews of two new great books we partner with. Our first book is dedicated to our motherlove, planet earth - a place for our children to flourish! And the book itself is no less marvelous than its dedication.

Our book for today is:

Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!

The publisher, Beaufort Books, and the author Suzanne Corso, are collaborating with Eco-Libris to encourage the readers of this wonderful book to green up their reading and take a step to support the environment by planting a tree with us for their copy. Thanks to the support of Beaufort Books and Suzanne Corso, readers will be able to do so at a special discount on our website!

Author: Suzanne Corso

Suzanne is the author of two feature film screenplays, which are based on her novels. Brooklyn Story, a young woman’s coming of age tale and RoughCuts; The Trilogy. A fast-paced, romantic suspense story set against the backdrop of the diamond business. She has also penned other screenplays, such as A Simple Road and Gary Granite. Suzanne has also developed a television show called Empire, based upon Wall Street and has also produced for the New York and London stages the critically acclaimed Roman Nights, about screen legend Anna Magnani and playwright Tennessee Williams.

Along with her other accomplishments Suzanne has produced two documentaries; Indonesia, A Personal Journey and HEAR THEM ROAR, shot entirely at the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Citra, Florida. Narrated by Lorraine Bracco. This documentary was the foundation that inspired her children’s series.

Publisher: Beaufort Books

Published on: April 22, 2009

Reading ages: 5-9

What it is about (from the author's website):
The Sammy & Sue Series, based on Sammy and Sue Corso, a mother/daughter team that seeks to educate children about the environment, the planet, nutrition, and to lead to an eco-friendly (”green”) life. The Sammy & Sue books have one goal in mind; to educate our children, to protect our environment and keep our animals safe.

“Go Green Too!” is the first book in the series and will lead your children on thrilling adventures while teaching them to value the planet and all of its resources. Sammy & Sue are helping to help you spread and start saving the planet. Their mission is to teach their New York City neighbors and American families to conserve energy, drive hybrid cars, and make peace with nature by using eco-friendly products, recycling, and eating organically grown foods. Sammy & Sue set out to visit various eco-friendly companies and organic farms across America.

Why you should get it:
1. The joint mother-daughter journey into the green world is a great way to introduce readers, both parents and children, with environmental ideas and concepts. I think that the 'team' idea makes the characters as well as their messages much more easy to identify with.

2. It's a fun story! I think one of the problems of the green movement, especially with kids, is the serious image it has and the notion that going green is a complexed mission. Well, the future of the planet is a serious issue, no doubt about that, but it doesn't mean that you can't engage children into it in a fun and original way that will help them to get connected to green ideas, and that's exactly what this book does.

3. And it's also educational. I liked the fact that by the end of the book kids can find a glossary (or as they call it "Hard words made easy") with simple explanations to big words like atmosphere, pesticides, biodegradable and so on.

4. Beautiful illustrations - they make the story so alive!

What others say about the book:
“These wonderful stories instill a sense of not only understanding but, empowerment ot our childern about the earth and how to take care of it. I look forward to reading them with my daugthers.” Marcia Cross, Actress "Desperate Housewives" ABC

"A hip testament to being kind to the world around us." Dr. Mehmet Oz, Columbia University, Vice Chairman, Cardiovascular Services, Oprah Show / XM Radio

"To bring about positive environmental change requires an understanding of our impact on the natural world, and a sense of adventure with endless possibility; Sammy & Sue have both" Philip Charles Gamett, President EarthPositive Apparel

You can read more about the book and the series at www.sammyandsue.com

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

The publisher, Beaufort Books are giving away one copy of the book, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!

How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: how do you go green too with your kid? Submissions are accepted until Wednesday, April 8, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Sammy & Sue Go Green Too!

Today we have the pleasure not only to present you with green resolutions of an author we work with, but also to update on a new collaboration on a new book!

This is the last part of "My Green Resolution for 2009" and we're happy to have it with Suzanne Corso, the author of the upcoming book "Sammy & Sue Go Green Too!" that will be published by Beaufort Books on Earth Day (April 22, 2009).

The publisher, Beaufort Books, and the author Suzanne Corso, are working with Eco-Libris to encourage the readers of this wonderful book to green up their reading and take a step to support the environment by planting a tree with us for their copy. Thanks to the support of Beaufort Books and Suzanne Corso, readers will be able to do so at a special discount on our website!























What's the book about? here's the synopsis from the publisher's website:

Join Sammy and Sue as they embark on an adventure to help the earth. Along the way they learn all about organic farming, hybrid cars, green cleaning products and even all natural ice cream! Come along with Sammy and Sue to discover how YOU can help the earth too!

The Sammy & Sue Series, based on Sammy and Sue Corso, is an eco-friendly, educational and endearing read for children. “Go Green Too!” is the first book in the series and will lead your children on thrilling adventures while teaching them to value the planet and all of its resources. Join Sammy & Sue to see what you can do too!

Hello Suzanne. What's your professional green resolution for 2009?
To get the word out by helping to save the planet and purchasing more organic foods and eco-friendly products. Start by educating ourselves and reading books that make a difference in our child's lives. The real reason I wrote "Sammy& Sue Go Green Too!" was to be able to enhance a child's eagerness to understand our environment a little bit better.

If you have a personal green resolution for 2009, what is it?

To be better equipped as an adult to better understand exactly what our environment needs. Begin slowly. It's as easy as shutting off the water, less flushes at the toilet and turning off the lights more often. If we all start somewhere, then we all make a difference.

What’s your green wish for 2009?

My green wish is for all to have more knowledge of the environment and all things around us. To better understand our neighbor and his or her needs, whether environment, being respectful or just lending a hand when needed. Being green is more than just the environment it is a way of life.

If you have any other greetings, please feel free to add them.
I want to say how happy I am that my publisher Beaufort and myself decided to partner with Eco-Libris and tell the world by using my book as a vehicle, about the importance of planting new trees to help save the environment.

Any other plans for 2009?

Yes, my plan is to embrace the change of our great country that my daughter and I call home and to take this new found change and enlighten children all over America via bringing awareness to our ever changing environment. Remember it is all done in baby steps, and believe it or not you get their quicker and that is how you make your mark.

Thanks, Suzanne and good luck with the new book!

To learn more about the Sammy & Sue series please visit their website - http://www.sammyandsue.com. You're also welcome to check out Beaufort Books' website at http://www.beaufortbooks.com. And don't forget - the book will be released on Earth Day! (we'll keep you posted :-)

We want to thank all of our partners who took part in "My Green Resolution for 2009" Series. We wish everyone a green and successful 2009!

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Guy Boulianne of Mille Poetes editions

Patrick Darby of Novel Places

Erica Caldwell of Present Tense

Bart Babek of AboutMyPlanet.com

Angela Wieck of EcoBrain

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Vonda Schaefer of Valley Books

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Chris Flynn of Torpedo

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net