Since 2021, Dr. Guertin and Betsy Wilkening have been masterfully blending fiber art with critical scientific topics like global warming, climate change, and environmental threats, all while offering potential solutions. In 2024, Dr. Decker proposed an innovative expansion: a multimodal ekphrastic project that pairs powerful poetry with evocative art.

 

This book is the stunning result. You'll find a diverse array of artwork—from exquisite fiber art quilts to compelling drawings, paintings, and even museum pieces—each carefully selected to illuminate the theme of "making the unseen, seen" and to forge a powerful connection between science and art through the medium of poetry.

 

We strongly encourage you to delve into the Artist/Scientist Statements at the back of the book. These illuminating insights provide brief, accessible explanations that enhance the thoughtful poems, making complex scientific topics relatable and engaging for everyone.

 

It has been a true joy to bring this project to life. We hope you'll return to these pages again and again, discovering new layers of meaning with each reading.

 

Contributors to this book include: Donald Beagle, Emily Bilman, Joyce Brinkman, Sarah-Beth Bradley, Megan Brown, Emma M. Burkett, Samantha Carr, Joan Ellen Casey, Loralee Clark, Tricia Coulson, Marcela Bianchessi da Cunha-Santino, Dr. Kathleen P. Decker, Zoey Dudding, Jae Dyche, Christie King Eckardt , Kerry Faraone, Catalina Florina Florescu, Anna Isabella Fratarcangelo, Chapman Hood Frazier, Dennis Owen Frohlich, Gail Giewont, Dr. Michale Glennon, Marjorie Gowdy, Jody Gruendel, Dr. Laura Guertin, Cathy Hailey, Lauren Haygood, Kate Hedstrom, Wayne David Hubbard, Mark Hudson, Piper Jameson, Robert J. Keeler, Dr. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Barbara Martina Linde, Sally Harcum Maxwell, Greg McNamara, Susan Copley Novack, Holly Panzera, Sarah Parker, Tessa Peixoto, Suzanne Underwood Rhodes, Lynne Schreiber, Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ron Smith, Alica Swain, Johannes Vermeer, Betsy Wilkening, Diana Woodcock, Nicole Zwolinski.

A heartwarming children's book about empathy, friendship, and the true meaning of generosity.
 
For Sadie, the smell of hay and the feel of leather are pure magic. There is nothing she loves more than spending Saturdays at the stables, riding her favorite ponies, Buttons and Kate. It’s a place where she feels happiest, especially when she’s riding alongside her best friend, Ricardo. But everything changes when Ricardo shares a big secret: his mother is very sick, and his family can no longer afford to pay for his lessons. Ricardo has to give up the one thing he loves most.
 
Faced with her friend’s quiet despair, Sadie is forced to make a difficult choice: keep her full, cherished lesson to herself, or make a sacrifice to help a friend in need. Without a second thought, Sadie offers to share her own riding time, deciding that seeing Ricardo smile is worth giving up her own ride.
The Sharing Lesson is an essential story for every child who loves animals and needs a reminder about the joy of selfless kindness. Join Sadie as she discovers that friendship is worth more than any blue ribbon, and that the best lessons in life are learned outside the arena.
 
Perfect for young readers who love horses, kindness, and stories about helping others.
 
Themes:
Generosity & Empathy
Dealing with illness and financial difficulty
The bonds of true friendship
Horses, ponies, and barn life