Susan Verde, “The Water Princess” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016)

Supermodel Georgie Badiel grew up in a small village in Burkina Faso where the closest source of water was many miles from home. After launching her successful modeling career, she began to speak out about the vital importance clean water can have on a community, drawing on her personal experience to educate others. Author Susan Verde and New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds were inspired by Georgie’s story, and together all three have crafted a poignant picture book called, The Water Princess (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2016). Perfect for classroom teaching and for bedtime reading, The Water Princess illustrates one girl’s dream of helping her community, while educating readers on this important global issue. A percentage of the proceeds are being donated to the Ryan’s Well Foundation and to the Georgie Badiel Foundation. Susan Verde writes children’s books and teaches kid’s yoga and mindfulness. She is also the author of the picture books The Museum, and You and Me, I Am Yoga. Learn more at: http://www.susanverde.com.

Susan Raab is president of Raab Associates, an internationally recognized agency that specializes in marketing literature, products and initiatives that help improve the lives of young people. Clients have included National Geographic, Scholastic, the International Board on Books for Young People, and bestselling authors and illustrators. Susan is marketing advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She’s also a journalist reporting on publishing, education and human rights. Her work as a broadcast correspondent has been hosted by the University of Connecticut, and by the University of Floridas Recess Radio, a program syndicated to 500 public radio stations. Her many interviews, including with Art Spiegelman, Jon Scieszka, Norton Juster, Laurie Halse Anderson and many others talking about art and literature can be heard here. Follow Susan at: https://twitter.com/sraab18

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