The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has launched Feeding Minds Press, a new publishing company focused on books for children about agriculture. Foundation education outreach director Julia Recko says the goal is to provide an accurate portrayal of agriculture.
“Feedings Minds Press is a new publishing company that the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has created with the goal of creating accurate and engaging books about agriculture,” Recko said. “The press will really focus on picture books ages 1-8, for now, but we will expand as we see the need.”
Recko said it’s becoming tougher to find books that meet the Foundation’s criteria to be considered an accurate agricultural book.
“We know that there was a need for these books in schools, and we really understand the value of children’s books and the powerful tools stories are to help students understand where their food comes from,” Recko said. “So, we decided to take the plunge ourselves and to publish our own books that fit into our own criteria, that met our guidelines and that we knew are going to be great stories to help students learn.”
The first book, called Right This Very Minute, will be published in January 2019.
“It’s going to be a 32-page picture book, which will be geared to grades K-3rd, and it will follow children through an entire day of meals and snacks, and each one will emphasize how critical farmers and agriculture are to our society,” she said. “We hope that through these snapshots of a variety of types of farming readers can gain an understanding and appreciation for the unique challenges that going into feeding the world.”
Feeding Minds Press is searching for manuscripts for accurate agricultural children’s books. Open submissions will be accepted March 1-31, 2018.