Jennifer Thermes – författare

Sam Bennett needs new shoes. His old ones are full of holes. And Sam is growing up. With new shoes, he will now be able to help his pa plow the fields and sheer the sheep. Yet when Sam’s new shoes arrive, he learns that his old shoes still have a purpose. Together, Sam and his pa hide his old shoes in the walls of the house to bring the family good luck.

Charles Darwin was a scientist by profession but an explorer at heart. At age 22, Darwin embarked on his first voyage aboard a ship called the Beagle. This picture book follows Charles as he explores South America for the first time, collecting insects, galloping with Gauchos, digging up dinosaur bones, eating armadillo for breakfast, and making early discoveries related to evolution and natural selection. He encounters a volcano, a glacier and an earthquake and survives a harrowing five-year journey before returning home to England, determined to devote his life to the natural world. Complete with mesmerizing map work charting his voyage, the biography communicates Darwin’s ideas and discoveries with gentle illustrations that capture his admiration for the world around him.

Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail.  With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. She braved angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises. When things got particularly tough, she relied on the kindness of strangers or sheer luck to get her through the night. When the newspapers got wind of her amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her trek, which came just a few months after she set out. A story of true grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak is insurmountable.

Through the lens of the land that has come to be known as America, award-winning picture book creator Jennifer Thermes captures centuries of historyA Place Called America takes the long view of the land’s history, from its earliest formation and inhabitants up through today. Meet those indigenous to the deserts, prairies, forests, and shores of the land called Turtle Island and their relatives whose ideas founded the basis of the Constitution and who contributed in unique ways to World War II and more. Meet immigrant communities who came to the land from all around the world—at different times and against all odds, even with staunch United States immigration policies. And meet enslaved ancestors who were brought to the land against their will and whose labor and experience changed the story forever.Expert picture book maker Jennifer Thermes deftly weaves the threads of these communities’ narratives together, while giving each the spotlight they deserve—using the land itself as a unifying lens. Illustrated with dazzling maps, A Place Called America is a visual delight. It is an info-packed read, with sidebars, an author’s note, and a timeline supplementing the accessible text.A Place Called America will challenge its readers to think critically about the stories we tend to take for granted about our own history.

From the award-winning author of Manhattan and A Place Called America, Earth takes the long view—celebrating the enduring planet we call homeWith air to breathe, a sun to warm it, and water that sustains life, planet Earth is unique in the universe.Travel back in deep time to learn about Earth’s formation and to discover how life on Earth evolved through the ages. From the Big Bang to its earliest single-celled organisms, to plant life, dinosaurs, mammals, and modern-day human beings—witness how geographical changes and extinction events shaped the planet and the living creatures upon it.Earth: One Planet’s Epic Story is a sweeping history of planet Earth told through detailed maps, infographics, sidebars, and stunning illustrations that explore how life on Earth is intertwined in a complex and delicate balance.From Jennifer Thermes, the author and illustrator of Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island and A Place Called America, comes a love letter to planet Earth and its natural wonders.

At the turn of the 20th Century, scientists and explorers were in a race to unlock the secrets of the last great uncharted place on Earth – Antarctica. This is the true story of Tom Crean, the legendary Irish explorer and crewmate of three of the most important and famous expeditions in British history – Discovery, Terra Nova and Endurance. Through his story, we discover the events that took place on these voyages which were often thrilling, inspiring and heart-breaking.

Told in dazzling maps and informative sidebars, Manhattan explores the 400+ year history of Manhattan Island.From before its earliest settlement to the vibrant metropolis that exists today, the island of Manhattan has always been a place of struggle, growth, and radical transformation. Humans, history, and natural events have shaped this tiny sliver of land for more than 400 years. In Manhattan, travel back in time to discover how a small rodent began an era of rapid change for the island. Learn about immigration, the slave trade, and the people who built New York City. See how a street plan projected the city’s future, and how epic fires and storms led to major feats of engineering above and below ground. Through dramatic illustrations, informative sidebars, and detailed maps inspired by historic archives, Manhattan explores the rich history that still draws people from all around the world to the island’s shores today. From The Battery downtown up to Inwood, every inch of the island has a story to tell.