Jennifer Swanson Discusses Footprints Across the Planet

A podcast interview with Jennifer Swanson
The Children’s Book Review

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, we have self-proclaimed science geek, award-winning author, speaker, and teacher, Jennifer Swanson.

Jennifer talks about her newest picture book, Footprints Across the Planet—a masterful introduction to the concepts of sustainability and inclusivity that even the youngest readers can understand and enjoy. This stunning picture book helps readers to think about the impact they are making on the world.

Listen to the Interview

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Jennifer Swanson’s love of science began when she started a science club in her garage at the age of 7. While no longer working from the garage, Jennifer’s passion for science resonates in the fascinating 45+ nonfiction and fiction books she has written for children but especially BRAIN GAMES (NGKids) and SUPER GEAR: Nanotechnology and Sports Team Up (Charlesbridge), which was named an NSTA Best STEM book of 2017.

Jennifer’s book, Save the Crash-test Dummies, received a Parent’s Choice GOLD award. Her Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact received a Florida Book Award, a Eureka California Reading Association Gold Award, and an NSTA BEST STEM book award. Her BEASTLY BIONICS book received a GOLD Florida Book Award and an NSTA BEST STEM book award.

An accomplished and exciting speaker, Jennifer has presented at National NSTA conferences, the Highlights Foundation, the Atlanta Science Festival, the World Science Festival in NYC, and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival.

Read the Interview

Bianca Schulze: With Earth Day coming up, I was like, who should we have on this episode? And then I was like, you know what? We need to get Jennifer on here and talk about Footprints Across the Planet. So, I’m really excited to dig into it. But before we do, I have to say that I noticed on social media that you’ve been having a pretty fantastic April, and I was wondering if you wanted to share a little bit with our listeners about your experience with NASA. I won’t go into it. I want to let you do it.

Jennifer Swanson: Yes. It was, as one of my teammates said, the field trip of a lifetime. So, NASA runs these NASA social events, and anybody can apply. To be a member, you need to have a following and a kind of platform. And I do because I talk about STEM for kids. And so I applied, and for two days, I went to NASA Johnson space center. We were there in the room where The Artemis II astronauts were announced, and then they came directly to us. We were the first people to see them after the big announcement for our own private press conference. It was crazy.

Bianca Schulze: Amazing.

Jennifer Swanson: We met them all in person. So, I got to shake Christina Koch’s hand. The female astronaut is going to be the first one around the moon. And then we spent the next two days. They took us everywhere. And if you follow me at all, you know that I’m so excited about engineering and science. We went to the neutral buoyancy lab. We got to meet the new robot, Valkyrie. They literally had to drag me away from her. I was like, yeah, can I just robot to take her home?

Bianca Schulze: I think I saw your post about Valkyrie, and I think I left a comment because I was like, that is so cool.

Jennifer Swanson: So, if you want to see some of my videos and pictures, you can follow me on social media. I’m @JenSwanBooks books on Twitter and Instagram. But, yeah, the picture of me with Valkyrie, I don’t think my smile could get any bigger.

Bianca Schulze: So, you’re actually a self-professed science geek, and I want to know, have you always been into science and technology?

Jennifer Swanson: Yes. I started a science club in my garage when I was seven. And while that sounds like a great story, right? It actually is true. I had a garage. Do any of you remember the old wooden milk crates? My mom got some of those, right. And those were our little benches, and we had, like, a group of neighborhood kids. I was the leader of the science club, and I was like, let’s go investigate. We had an apple tree, so we looked at apples and we looked at flowers.

And then, my mom gave me a microscope, which was so incredible, and I still have to this day. It’s in its own little wooden box. And then, my love of science just followed me throughout my life. I was a chemistry major at the US. Naval Academy, and I taught chemistry for a while. I’ve taught middle school science for a while. So, yeah, I’ve been a big science geek from the time of birth.

Bianca Schulze: I love it. Well, so you’re saying from the time of birth. But do you attribute anything or anyone specifically fostering and nurturing your love of STEM and STEAM?

Jennifer Swanson: Absolutely. In fact, I gave a talk a couple of weeks ago about this. So, the three big people in my life that have kind of helped me and supported me were, of course, my mom. Because I grew up with three brothers, I was never told girls couldn’t do science and STEM. And I didn’t realize until later in life how unusual that was, unfortunately.

And then, I had a 7th-grade science teacher who was a woman. Now, this was a while ago in a very small town, and so women science teachers were not as prevalent as they are. And she really encouraged me and told me I could do anything. And at that time, I wanted to be a pediatrician. And she was like, well, why can’t you be a pediatrician?

And then, when I went to college, another science teacher, Dr. Lomax, told me something that probably led me on the path where I’m now. He told me that I was very good at taking very complex topics and turning them into something very accessible and easy to understand and that that was a huge talent, and that I should use that somehow. And years later, when I was a stay-at-home mom, I was like, okay, I’m ready to start my kind of second career. I think that is what brought me to write STEM books for kids.

Bianca Schulze: Sidestepping from science for just a moment. Would you say you’ve always been a reader and a writer, then?

Jennifer Swanson: Absolutely. Oh, my gosh. So, I started actually writing my own stories when I was in kindergarten. I used to write little stories about my dog. Like, we went on a walk. My dog sniffed a flower. I mean, I was five.

And then, I kept journals my whole life. If any of you are kids listening or if you have kids and parents listening, keep the journals. They’re amazing to look at later on. And I was a huge reader, always have been. I have my earliest memories are riding my bike to the library with my mom and then later on my own. And they had summer reading programs. Remember how many books you read? And then you could win a blizzard at Dairy Queen. I was all over that. I was all over that.

Bianca Schulze: I love it. Well, so let’s see. Your professor sort of led you to become a writer, but you’ve always been a reader and a writer, and you’ve always loved science, and so now you’re an award-winning author. And tell me if this number is incorrect, but over 45 nonfiction books for children, mainly about science and technology, is that number correct, or is it more than that now?

Jennifer Swanson: I kind of lose track of how many have been out. That is correct, as far as I know. I did sign my 50th book contract a few months ago. So that sounds about right. But I think I have five more books coming out in the next couple of years.

Bianca Schulze: Oh, my gosh. Congratulations. That’s incredible. Well, so then, let’s dig into what it is that drives you to write for kids. Because, okay, you have this ability to take a more complex topic and make it digestible. You could have written for adults, too. What is it that drives you to write for kids?

Jennifer Swanson: It’s funny that you ask that because I’ve been asked several times, why don’t you write for adults? In my head, I am a nine-year-old or ten-year-old kid who is so curious about the world. And for me, my passion is to reach out to kids that age, like 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, and hopefully ignite that spark of curiosity about science and STEM inside them. And I think if we can do that, then these are the kids that will go on to be scientists, engineers, artists, graphic designers, all of these different careers that you can make.

But I want kids to realize that it’s all-around science and STEM. It’s all around you. It’s in everything you do. And I think the wonder of that gets lost a little when they get a little older. And that’s what drives me. That’s what I’m passionate about. And that’s probably the teacher in me, too, right?

Bianca Schulze: Yeah. What you just described there, is that what led you to start your very cool podcast for kids? Solve It For Kids.

Jennifer Swanson: Yes, actually. So, the podcast was my pandemic project. During the pandemic, like everybody else, I was like, oh, my gosh, how am I going to reach kids? And I’m so excited. And I had been on another podcast, Reading With Your Kids, by my dear Jed Doherty, and I loved it. I was like; this is a great format. Like you, like this podcast. It’s a great format to reach a lot of people. And it occurred to me that while I get to write about these amazing scientists and engineers, what if the kids could hear from them themselves, the real scientists and engineers, because these people are so passionate about what they do?

And maybe most regular people or kids think that scientists and engineers are just they were lab coats, and everything’s boring. No, they love it. So that’s kind of where I got the idea to do that, and it’s really flourished. We have 152 episodes. We work with amazing scientists at NASA and Woods Hole Oceanographic and CERN and all of these amazing science and engineering agencies. It’s been a lot of fun. I love it. Absolutely love it.

There is no pattern to these podcasts. People have asked me—we don’t do themes, really. We find amazing scientists, and we try to split them all up. Here’s what I would suggest. If you go to the website Solveforkids.com, you can sort episodes by topic. I just say pick whatever topic you want. We have orangutans we have trees and biology. We have climate change. We have space, of course. We have engineering. We have cars, self-driving cars. Everything you can think of, pretty much. I say pick your favorite topic.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah, that’s fun. I guess that’s why we started with Star Wars. How do you build a droid?

Jennifer Swanson: Oh, yeah, that was a good one.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah. My son is, like, everything Star Wars, so that felt like the right place for us. You’re running off to NASA. You’ve got speaking engagements. I dug around on your website. You do great school visits. You’ve just signed your 50th contract for a veteran book. I mean, how do you manage it all? And do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts of your life?

Jennifer Swanson: So, the professional answer is no. I love it all. My personal answer is yes. Of course. Like everybody else, I will throw in there that I actually have a STEM literacy nonprofit that I run as well. So, there’s a lot of things, but I am one of those people that likes to have a lot of things going on. So, if you can juggle it, that’s great. But there are times when I will just take off, like, a week, and usually when I try to do my trips, even if I’m doing school visits, I will stay an extra day, or my husband will come with me. And we kind of take some time by ourselves too. Although I have to say, a lot of the places we visit are also like, science museums and NASA.

Bianca Schulze: Do you have a favorite science museum that you visited?

Jennifer Swanson: Oh, wow. Since I grew up in Illinois, I’m really partial to the science museums in Chicago, so the Museum of Science and Industry is amazing. I love the Field Museum, and I love the Shed Aquarium, but I’ve been to Georgia Aquarium, like, three times in the last couple of months because my son and his wife lived there, and so, I don’t know. It’s hard to pick.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah, I lived in Washington, DC, for about three years when my first child was born. And we spent not every weekend, but that’s how I remember it every weekend through all the Smithsonian Museums and the fact that they were free and just walking in, and I just feel so lucky that we got to immerse our little baby and Toddler in all of that. And she loved the Aaron space. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Jennifer Swanson: Oh, I love that. When I was at the Naval Academy, we used to take the Metro in, I believe, and go there all the time. Yeah, I spent four years going to DC. Smithsonian Museum.

Bianca Schulze: Well, let’s dig into your latest fabulous book, Footprints Across the Planet, which shows how we all impact the Earth daily through our footprints. How did you settle on the idea that this was a book you needed and wanted to write?

Jennifer Swanson: That’s a great question. I will say this is the book I didn’t know I could write. And I say it that way because if you look at all my other books, they’re like 10,000, 15,000, 30,000 words. This book is 150 words. And yet, to me, it has the most powerful message, almost, of any of the other ones. Not the other ones aren’t great.

But I wrote this book when I guess, it was kind of a little before the pandemic and, I guess, the beginning of the pandemic. There was so much upheaval in the world at the time. We had all of the marches going on. Of course, climate change is a really big issue, and I wanted to find something positive that I could talk to kids about, take all of this upheaval and chaos that’s in the world, and try to figure out how to tell everybody it’s okay.

And it took me a while, but I started thinking, what is the simplest way that we all make an impact on the planet? And I was like, we take a step; we take a footprint. And you can see it if you’re in mud or sand or whatever, wet grass. And all of a sudden, the whole thing just kind of burgeoned from there. And I started with animal footprints, but then I moved to people. And then, of course, you end with the digital and the carbon footprint, and the whole thing kind of just fell together for me, literally while I was riding my bike one day.

Bianca Schulze: So, listeners up the front of this episode heard the synopsis for this book. Would you like to just sort of dig in a little bit and let listeners know what they could expect to see and talk about the beautiful photography in the book?

Jennifer Swanson: Oh, absolutely. This book was published by Reycraft Books, which is a division of Benchmark Publishing. And I sent the words, which people are calling lyrical and poetic, which I chuckle at because I’m not like I am not a poet at all. And I made suggestions for photographs that I wanted to pin in. Of course, it’s only 150 words. You have to do that. It’s hard to describe how I felt when I saw the first photographs. They are gorgeous, full-spread photographs depicting animals and footprints and steps on the moon, on Mars, all of these different things.

When I first looked at the file when my editor, Wiley Blevins, sent me the file, tears came to my eyes. I was like; this is my book. I mean, I wrote the words, but without the gorgeous photographs, I don’t think this book would be as amazing. And I didn’t pick them. The team at Reycraft did a fabulous job. And it will just take you on a path through different animals. But I invite you to look at each spread and kind of think about it in broader terms because there’s layers to each of these pages.

So, if you’re showing it to a five-year-old, they’re going to get the surface, but if you show it to like a third grader, fourth grader, fifth grader, they’re going to understand. For example, there’s one spread where it says footprints are difficult to spot, and those three animals on the page are all endangered.

And there’s layers. There’s an image of people who stood up for change. And then we’re talking about RBG and Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. There’s a picture of the tracks on Mars for the Mars rover because, after all, those are footprints that we’re making on other planets. So, it kind of takes you all over our solar system, so to speak, and just gets you to think in a broader term about footprints.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah, I mean, I feel like there’s so much to unpack in everything that you just said there. We can go deeper on, obviously, the science, the nature, the activism. For some reason, my brain is taking me to what you said about people calling your writing lyrical and poetic. That’s where my brain is going right now. That’s the direction we’re going to go here. So, you’re not a poet.

Jennifer Swanson: No.

Bianca Schulze: You wrote prose that people are calling lyrical and poetic. So, what does that mean? And to me, when somebody says lyrical and poetic in the sense of prose, it’s because you touched their heart. You touched on a piece of human nature. You made the readers think on a deeper level, and to me, that is poetic. So, I don’t know if you want to add anything there, but that’s what I’m thinking.

Jennifer Swanson: No, I mean, that’s wonderful to hear and makes me feel so amazing that I’ve never heard that interpretation. So that made my heart very happy right now to hear that. But as I said, all I keep saying is this is the book I didn’t know I could write.

Literally, I was on a bike ride, and the words started forming in my head, so I stopped. Any author knows if the words are coming, you write them down because you are not going to remember them. So, I stopped, and I would text myself, and then I’d write a little more, and then another line would come, and I would text myself. So, by the time I came back, I had almost the complete story done. And then, of course, you have to edit it and whatever, but it literally came to me while I was on a bike ride. So, yeah, it’s wild.

Bianca Schulze: I wonder now if there’s any authors listening saying, okay, well, can we have a pilgrimage? Let’s find out what that bike ride is, and let’s see if the rest comes to us on that bike ride.

Jennifer Swanson: I mean, maybe, yeah, it was from here to the Mayo Clinic, and back where I live, so I don’t know.

Bianca Schulze: When it comes, it comes.

Jennifer Swanson: It does. Yes.

Bianca Schulze: Well, this might be asking too much because I don’t know if you have a copy on hand, but if you did, would you be willing to read a couple of spreads?

Jennifer Swanson: Absolutely. I do have a copy next to me, so I’ll read the couple that I usually do. Okay, so this is how it starts.

Footprints come in all shapes and sizes, colors, and species. Some are large and deep, strong, and purposeful. Others are small and shallow, barely leaving any imprint at all. Footprints are also as diverse as the people on the planet. Footprints represent people who stood up for change and those who strive to follow them.

Bianca Schulze: Yes. See? Lyrical and poetic. I love it. That’s beautiful.

Jennifer Swanson: Thank you. I’m so proud of this book, partially because it’s my first nonfiction picture book, but just because it’s one of those where sometimes you write the book and you’re like, okay, that book is good. But this one, I feel like, sends the message that I really wanted to get out there. And again, when coupled with these gorgeous photographs, it’s doing what I wanted, which is touching people, which means so much to me.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah. So, what kind of feedback have you received from readers and reviews? Like, do you have a favorite review? And I know they say authors don’t read your reviews, but we all do. Everybody reads their reviews, right? I feel like it’s great. Even when you get a negative review, that is the best constructive feedback. Obviously, for some of it, you just have to take and leave. But has there been a review that just really made your hot sing?

Jennifer Swanson: So, the one I got from School Library Journal, I feel like that reviewer got this book. I don’t remember it verbatim, but I just remember something online, and I’m assuming she—it could have been he—no, wait. Actually, I think it was she. Yes. Sorry. Kirkus is the one that doesn’t have names. She said that this book covers some really complex, important, and controversial topics, but in such a positive way to make people feel better about themselves and what they’re doing. Something along those lines. And I was like, yes, you got it. That’s what this book is about. It was a beautiful review.

Bianca Schulze: That’s awesome. What impact do you hope Footprints Across the Planet has on readers?

Jennifer Swanson: I hope it makes them think. I hope it makes them feel positive. What I want people to do is understand some people are the ones that can stand up for change and lead the march. Some people are not. They’re the ones that either are the followers in the march or perhaps don’t go to the march, but always recycle and always pick up trash.

So, whatever you’re doing for the planet, for yourself, to make an impact, it’s fine. Feel good about that. Don’t compare yourself to the others who are doing everything and then be like, oh, I should be doing that. No, feel good about what you’re doing and make your own impact in the right way. And remember that if you just take your steps in the right direction, one that helps the planet, then you’re doing everything that you should be doing.

Bianca Schulze: Beautifully said. I love that. Well, Jennifer, I don’t know if there’s anything else that you want us to know about the book or to know about you or any upcoming books like What’s Next? But if you want to take a minute to share whatever wants to spill out of your heart, we would love it.

Jennifer Swanson: Well, thank you. Well, I’m thrilled to say that Footprints Across the Planet won a Florida Book Award, a gold award. And I get to go to the ceremony where they give you a medal, right?

Bianca Schulze: That’s amazing.

Jennifer Swanson: I’m like, STEM authors don’t get medals that much, so I’m very excited. As far as upcoming books, I have two coming out this year. One is a Lego book with DK books, and it’s all about Earth and it’s all about different ecosystems and environments that you can build. And so, I think it’s called Lego: Amazing Earth that comes out this year.

And the other book I have that comes out this year was actually a book that I did for Mayo Clinic Press, which has stepped into the kids’ realm, and it’s called Spacecare: The Kids Guide to Surviving Space. And it’s all about medicine and technology that’s being done on the International Space Station right now. And the cool thing is I got to interview astronaut Megan MacArthur, who writes the foreword for the book, which was so amazing. So those two books come out this year.

Bianca Schulze: I’m already like, I got to get both of those. I have someone in my house that will love both of those.

Jennifer Swanson: Well, thank you.

Bianca Schulze: Yeah, this is amazing. Jennifer, I am just so grateful for you to be here today, and thanks so much for writing Footprints Across the Planet. It really is an important book. I hope so many people will pick it up and listen to or read it after listening to you talk about it today. And thanks just in general for spreading the message that by taking a step in the right direction, good things can and will follow. I appreciate you, and so does our planet.

Jennifer Swanson: Well, thank you so much, Bianca. That means a lot. And thank you for having me on your amazing podcast. It’s wonderful to chat with you. And I love all the work you do getting information out about amazing books that kids can read and enjoy.

Bianca Schulze: That’s really kind of you to say. And just for listeners, please know that I’ll be dropping links in the show notes to Jennifer’s podcast for kids and links to the books, obviously. And we can put in a link for your literacy nonprofit, too.

Jennifer Swanson: That would be wonderful. Thank you very much.

Bianca Schulze: A pleasure.

About the Book

Publisher’s Book Summary: Every footprint―from the physical to the digital and the permanent to the fleeting―leaves a mark on Earth telling a story of the past, the present, or the future. What type of imprint will YOU leave?

Journey around the world and experience through these vivid photographs how every being on the planet leaves an imprint, with their feet, their words, their actions. Whether human or animal, voices or activity, each mark has a purpose. To remind us of our history, give us a glimpse of our future, and maybe even inspire us to change the world.

Perfect for the aspiring STEM activist in your life– those who want to change the world!

Footprints Across the Planet is a masterful introduction to the concepts of sustainability and inclusivity that even the youngest readers can understand and enjoy.

The Children’s Book Review

Buy the Book

Show Notes

Resources:

Lego: Amazing Earth on ⁠Bookshop.org⁠ and ⁠Amazon⁠.

Spacecare: The Kids Guide to Surviving Space on ⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠ and ⁠Amazon⁠.

For more information, visit ⁠https://jenniferswansonbooks.com/⁠.

The Solve It For Kids Podcast: ⁠https://solveitforkids.com/⁠

KidLiteracy is Jennifer Swanson’s nonprofit organization: ⁠https://kidliteracy.org/⁠.

NASA Social Events: ⁠https://www.nasa.gov/connect/social/index.html⁠.

Discussion Topics:

• Visiting NASA and meeting The Artemis II lunar flyby mission crew members.
• Jennifer Swanson’s childhood love of STEM.
• Becoming an author of over 45 published nonfiction books for kids.
• The Solve it For Kids podcast and school visits.
• The idea, writing, and what to expect from Footprints Across the Planet.
• Taking steps in the right direction to make a difference on our planet.

Thank you for listening to the Growing Readers Podcast episode: Jennifer Swanson Discusses Footprints Across the Planet. For the latest episodes from The Growing Readers Podcast, Follow Now on Spotify. For similar books and articles, you can check out all of our content tagged with Earth Day, Inclusion, Jennifer Swanson, Non-Fiction, and STEM.