Amani, Mary Jo. (2012). Excuse Me, I’m Trying to Read!. Traverse City, MI: Mackinac Island Press.
ISBN: 978-1934133521
Mary Jo Amani’s children’s book, Excuse Me, I’m Trying to Read! is great fun and very clever. The illustrations by Lehla Eldrige are safari-themed—animals ranging from impalas and rhinos to dung beetles and elephants fill the uniquely drawn pages, documenting the plight of a young girl’s attempt to read in the midst of the daily busyness and fascinating distractions of the African bush. The young girl’s struggle to stay focused on her book is in earnest. Reading is so important that not even zebras should get in the way! The unique illustrations of African villages and landscape add to the appeal of each page. This winner of the 2011 National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Best Children’s Picture Book Award is a book that children will love—and one that their parents will enjoy reading over and over to them. Mary Jo Amani is the wife of USAID Foreign Service officer Todd Amani. She wrote the book as part of a series directed toward early readers (ages 2 to 8) for a community library program in Mozambique.
Crawford, Paul. 2019. Destiny’s Cradle. Create Space.
ISBN-13 978-1978367098.
Science fiction meets drama in this multidimensional novel for young adults. Based on scientific fact and inspired by “hard” natural sciences the book also features well-developed characters and a compelling story. Set in a biosphere contained within a single starship that is on a thousand year journey to colonize a distant planet, the story follows two teenagers and a stranger as they discover what they must do to protect the future of their own existence.
Retired FSO Paul Crawford joined USAID in 1983 and served 33 years promoting agriculture and naturel resources programs in Africa and Latin America. He now resides in Ann Arbor and his shorter sci-fi works can be found at https://paulcrawford.scifi.com/.
Harrison, SarahJean. (2024). The Abled Little Elephant. Independently Published.
ISBN-13 979-8330385188.
The Abled Little Elephant tells the story of Esinka, a young elephant who loses his trunk in an accident. Despite feeling different and unsure of himself, Esinka discovers through teamwork, creative problem-solving, and self-belief that his true strength lies not in his trunk but in his heart and spirit. His story reminds readers that everyone has unique abilities and that challenges can be overcome with dedication and the help of a caring community. The book, with coloring pages, provides children with disabilities a profound sense of self assurance and confidence in their capacity to flourish within society.
SarahJean Harrison joined USAID in 2010 and became a Foreign Service officer in 2013. She has degrees from The Monterey Institute and San Francisco State University., She has served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Israel, and Washington, D.C. Harrison is currently studying Spanish in preparation for her next assignment in Peru.
Normil, Monica Jean. Riley Explores Being a Diplomat. 2022. Independently published.
ASIN: BOB3YDRYW6.
9-year old Riley is curious to see what “people like her” do for a living when they grow up. She befriends Kennedy who works as a diplomat for the “United Countries” and learns what a diplomat is and does and how to become one.
Haitian born Monica Jean Normil was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo and worked with the USAID WASH project in Ghana. She then joined the foreign service as an Information Management Specialist. She has also authored Road to Table: Cooking My Way Around the World.
Scott, Steve M. (2024). Level Up! 50 Game-Changing Life Skills for Young Adults. Master a Growth Mindset, Productivity Tools, Healthy Eating, Biohacking, Brainpower, People Skills, Money, Financial Independence and More. Ponder Rocket Press.
ISBN 9798990974401.
Building the life of your dreams takes more than ambition- it requires mastering the key skills that fuel real success. Level Up empowers you to unlock your potential, inspired by heartfelt letters the author wrote to his children while navigating the uncertainties of a war zone.
Steve Scot is a USAID foreign service officer and former management consultant dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth. Raised in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, he has traveled to over fifty countries, collecting a wealth of life lessons. Currently posted to Guatemala with his family, Steve is passionate about creating strategies and tools for unlocking talent.