Ages 5-8 will dig into an out-of-this-world true story at April’s Book Worms, a monthly program that bridges the gap between preschool storytimes and book clubs for older kids.
On Thursday, April 2 at 4 p.m. in the Library’s Jones Meeting Center, special guest author Carolyn Bennett Fraiser will read her children’s book “Moon Tree,” which chronicles the remarkable journey of seeds that traveled to the moon and back on Apollo 14. Afterward, kids will connect space exploration and nature in a hands-on activity.
Registration is required for Book Worms.
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser is an award-winning author who has been writing children’s books for over 15 years. Along with writing, she teaches creative writing to middle and high school students and is a content producer for an international nonprofit. She lives in western North Carolina with her husband.
We got to talk with Fraiser recently about how she became a children’s author and why she felt compelled to tell the story of “Moon Tree.”
JCPL: What was your journey to becoming a children’s author? What first drew you to writing for children?
Fraiser: As a child, I was an avid reader, but nonfiction never interested me. I wanted a good story! After college, I began working for nonprofit organizations and got excited about telling stories about people doing amazing things around the world. At the same time, I began investigating living history museums here in the Southeast. I loved hearing all the fascinating stories of local men and women who lived in our region and wondered why these stories weren’t told in my history classes. Now, I find science equally as fascinating! I wanted to bring history and science alive to children in an engaging way and began to explore writing books for children.
What motivated you to write “Moon Tree”?
I had visited a local living history museum—the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest—in my hometown of Brevard, North Carolina. While walking along the trail, a sign caught my eye. A moon tree? I had grown up along the space coast of Florida and had never heard of a moon tree. I loved everything about astronomy, so I had to find out more. As I read more about the story of Stuart Roosa and the seeds that flew to the moon on Apollo 14, I couldn’t let it go and dove into research. I had to find out more of the story behind these “space seeds,” and it didn’t disappoint!
What do you hope young readers take away from the story?
What fascinated me about the story of the moon trees was that it didn’t just belong to Stuart Roosa. A division of smokejumpers inspired Stuart. NASA and the US Forest Service were involved. But also, a group of third graders along with their teacher saved the story from being lost to history. Each were an important piece of the moon tree legacy. Each one made an incredible difference. I hope kids take away that they can play an important role in science and history even while they are young. They are important. Their voice matters.
Is there a moment in the book that’s most poignant or meaningful to you?
I’m a dreamer, and I love the fact that Stuart Roosa was a dreamer too, as a child. One of the first pieces of artwork that the publisher shared with me was the page of young 10-year-old Stuart standing on his farm in Oklahoma, watching the airplanes return from World War II. It was a turning point for Stuart. That’s when he knew he wanted to fly. That dream took him all the way to the moon! That’s still one of my favorite parts of the story and I think one that most kids can relate to.
What do you think makes a children’s book truly memorable?
Children’s books were a huge part of my childhood. I read everything I could get my hands on. But probably the book that I enjoyed the most was “The Secret Garden” by Francis Hodgson Burnett. My grandmother gave it to me when I was in third or fourth grade. I fell in love with the story of a girl who felt misunderstood but found magic and friendship by bringing a garden back to life. I even had the chance to sing in the musical when my community theatre did it. I guess I’ve always had a soft spot for seeds and trees!
Visit our events calendar or call the Children’s Library at (423) 434-4458 for info about upcoming programs.
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