Science and Storytelling
Interview with Writer Claire Datnow
“My books open the hearts and minds of young people and inspire a love for the natural world and diverse cultures.” 
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This month’s Breezer Making Waves is Claire Datnow, author of The Adventures of The Sizzling Six Series!
Let’s dig into how Claire interweaves science and storytelling to encourage readers to become good stewards of the Earth.
Hi Claire. What are we celebrating with you?
The publication of two new books in The Adventures of The Sizzling Six Series, by Star Bright Books.
Congratulations! What does this opportunity mean to you?
This opportunity provides an outstanding way to promote my books that open the hearts and minds of young people and inspire a love for the natural world and diverse cultures.
What do you feel led you to this place on your journey?
I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, which ignited my love for the natural world and diverse cultures. After earning an MA in Education for Gifted and Talented and a second MA in Public History, I taught creative writing and environmental studies in the Birmingham, Alabama, public schools. Together with my students, I created a nature trail, now named the Alabama Audubon-Datnow Nature Preserve. My students inspired me to begin writing environmental fiction with themes of mystery, adventure, and environmental action. I interweave science and storytelling, STEAM, to encourage readers to become wise and just stewards of the Earth. My eco mysteries are set in my home state of Alabama and across the globe and feature endangered species.
Do you have any advice for Breezers who want to achieve something similar?
Writers can learn the art and craft of how to apply the building blocks of compelling science-based stories that will resonate with tweens and teens and correlate with state standards across the curriculum.
More Teacher Resources
Eco Mysteries Reading List
“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb
The time has come the whale said, to talk of many things, of plants, and trees, and freshwater fish, octopuses, hurricane, lizards and plastic squid, tigers, racoons, and Monarch butterflies, and why the sea is boiling hot and weather pigs have wings.— Apologies to Lewis Carrol’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter.”
Whether you’re a writer or reader, I hope your pursuits continue to be successful and satisfying. As an author, “success,” in part means publishing your books to share with the world. Success also means perseverance. Case in point, my most recently published books were purchased by Star Bright Books five years ago are now finally printed.
The Japanese quote about perseverance is "石の上にも三年" (Ishi no ue ni mo san-nen), which translates to "Three years on a stone,” meaning, it takes patience to warm up a stone by sitting on it.
For all lovers of stories, this is my somewhat random list. I often choose books with topics that complement my current writing. Some are for adults, others are for ages 9-14, but have crossover appeal for all ages. Looking down this list I see that most have focus on the natural world and how humans relate to it. No surprise since I write eco adventures and climate fiction with a focus on solutions on how to conserve the natural world.
In no particular order or genre:
The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence by Zoë Schlanger
The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David Quammen
Alabama’s Surprising Biodiversity and Southern Rivers: Restoring America’s Freshwater Biodiversity, by Scot Duncan
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
Hurricane, Lizards and Plastic Squids by Thor Hanson
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Missing Mike a novel in verse by Shari Green.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Selby VanPelt
Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo.
Archipelago by Monique Roffey.
A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon by Karen Romano Young.
All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
Flight Behavior Barbra Kingsolver.
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk.
Migrations by Charlotte Mcconaghy
Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson
Song for a Whale by Lynn Kelley
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Sending Kudos to all the talented writers of our SCBWI, Southern Breeze region.
Here are my just published Eco Adventures: Vanishing Birds and Operation Terrapin Rescue that are available now from Star Bright Books.
Please send your ideas and books for the next newsletter to me: cldatnow@me.com
Climate Women
| Guest Blog by Kathryn Williamson Art, Feminism, Climate Activism |
Visit : Kathryn Williamson
| I believe that healing the climate is connected with healing ourselves, which includes listening to our creativity and the small seeds of yearning we have. Listening, learning, encouraging each other in community. Even though I haven’t met these women, I feel in community with them. I want to grow from the wisdom they provide, I want to meditate on their words and feel affected by them. And the process of painting helps me do that. |
| Note: This is very much a work in progress. More image of paintings coming soon, pending approval by authors. |
Respect The Wildness of Animals
The second edition of Red Flag Warning: An Eco Adventure had just been published! The story follows the adventures of three special young people from across the world, the wild animals that are part of their lives, and the terrible threats they face—threats that will affect them and the entire world. The teens, all scared by wildfires, struggle with deeper wounds to their self- image. They must learn to respect the wildness of the animals they love and find their own voices, along with the power of community, in their mission to protect the animals they love
In what way does the book inspire compassion and respect for animals in the readers? Three teens Aisyah from Sumatra, Hector from California, and Kirri from Australia, dedicate themselves to the challenging task of rehabilitating a Sumatran orangutang, a Rock wallaby, and a Peregrine falcon–all severely injured in wildfires. To accomplish this mission to return them to the wild, they must acquire knowledge, respect, patience, and empathy for the animals with whom they have bonded.
What inspired you to write about animals? Red Flag Warning opens a gateway for young people to feel empathy toward animals in the wild, empowering them to take action to help animals thrive and survive, and ultimately to preserve the biodiversity of life.
Does the story weave in other themes? Absolutely. The wildfires are fueled by climate change resulting in the destruction of the natural habitat necessary for the survival of the species.
More Blogs
Respect The Wildness of Animals
The second edition of Red Flag Warning: An Eco Adventure had just been published! The story follows the adventures of three special young people from across the world, the wild animals that are part of their lives, and the terrible threats they face—threats that will affect them and the entire world. The teens, all scared by wildfires, struggle with deeper wounds to their self- image. They must learn to respect the wildness of the animals they love and find their own voices, along with the power of community, in their mission to protect the animals they love
In what way does the book inspire compassion and respect for animals in the readers? Three teens Aisyah from Sumatra, Hector from California, and Kirri from Australia, dedicate themselves to the challenging task of rehabilitating a Sumatran orangutang, a Rock wallaby, and a Peregrine falcon–all severely injured in wildfires. To accomplish this mission to return them to the wild, they must acquire knowledge, respect, patience, and empathy for the animals with whom they have bonded.
What inspired you to write about animals? Red Flag Warning opens a gateway for young people to feel empathy toward animals in the wild, empowering them to take action to help animals thrive and survive, and ultimately to preserve the biodiversity of life.
Does the story weave in other themes? Absolutely. The wildfires are fueled by climate change resulting in the destruction of the natural habitat necessary for the survival of the species.
More Blogs
The Last Whaling Station
A Visit to the Setting of the Story
Reality met the setting I imagined on my trip to the Last Whaling in the US, San Pueblo Point, East Bay California. This is an excerpt from The Gray Whale's Lament after my trip.
Chapter 8. The Last Whaling Station
They drove on the freeway through heavy traffic and then across the long, roller coaster-like San Rafael Bridge. Nearing their destination at Point Molate Naval Base, they passed an old air raid shelter with castle-like brown brick walls covered in vines.
Searching the internet Sarah exclaimed, “Mom, this is so interesting . . . did you know that Native Americans fished right here for centuries, and that in the late 1800s it was a Chinese shrimp camp?” Read More…
The Last Whaling Station
A Visit to the Setting of the Story
Reality met the setting I imagined on my trip to the Last Whaling in the US, San Pueblo Point, East Bay California. This is an excerpt from The Gray Whale's Lament after my trip.
Chapter 8. The Last Whaling Station
They drove on the freeway through heavy traffic and then across the long, roller coaster-like San Rafael Bridge. Nearing their destination at Point Molate Naval Base, they passed an old air raid shelter with castle-like brown brick walls covered in vines.
Searching the internet Sarah exclaimed, “Mom, this is so interesting . . . did you know that Native Americans fished right here for centuries, and that in the late 1800s it was a Chinese shrimp camp?” Read More…
The Winds of Change are Calling
In a world where the gale force winds of change are driving hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods and forests fires, I ask myself: what can I do to make a difference no matter how small? As a writer, I have chosen to dedicate myself to weaving stories that will, hopefully, inspire the children of tomorrow to shape a brighter future. After decades of misinformation, denial, and inadequate attempts to reduce the dire impact of environmental destruction, young people around the world are troubled, angry, and frustrated. They are searching for ways to understand and to take action. The epiphany that inspired me to begin writing Eco-mysteries struck me one morning driving to work down the road winding through a wooded hillside. As I approached the bottom of the hill, I yelled out loud, “How dare they!” Overnight, a swath of naked red dirt had replaced a verdant forest. A forest of oak, hickory, poplar, and pine, which had sheltered
Read More…The Winds of Change are Calling
In a world where the gale force winds of change are driving hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods and forests fires, I ask myself: what can I do to make a difference no matter how small? As a writer, I have chosen to dedicate myself to weaving stories that will, hopefully, inspire the children of tomorrow to shape a brighter future. After decades of misinformation, denial, and inadequate attempts to reduce the dire impact of environmental destruction, young people around the world are troubled, angry, and frustrated. They are searching for ways to understand and to take action. The epiphany that inspired me to begin writing Eco-mysteries struck me one morning driving to work down the road winding through a wooded hillside. As I approached the bottom of the hill, I yelled out loud, “How dare they!” Overnight, a swath of naked red dirt had replaced a verdant forest. A forest of oak, hickory, poplar, and pine, which had sheltered
Read More…