Have children ever stumped you with seemingly simple questions like why is ocean water salty or why does wet sand stick together, but dry sand doesn’t? You can find the answers to these and other questions in local author Dallas Woodburn’s book Kid Scientists at the Beach.
Woodburn was inspired to write her book after a trip to the beach with her older daughter Maya who asked so many questions—most of which Woodburn couldn’t answer. After doing some research, Woodburn tried to explain the answers simply so Maya could understand. She realized these explanations could make a fun story, and her first children’s book was born. One of the two main characters in the book is based on Maya.
Woodburn delighted young readers when she read Kid Scientists at the Beach to them on July 26 at Banter Bookshop in Fremont with her two daughters in attendance. Woodburn engaged the children by asking them about their experiences at the beach, solving beach riddles, singing a beach song and taking a pledge to become official “kid scientists” who explore and ask questions. The kids had lots of questions for Woodburn and were happy to hear she has more kid scientist books in the works.
Writing captivated Woodburn from an early age. She self-published a collection of short stories, poems and drawings when she was 10 years old. This experience reinforced her desire to express herself through writing and sharing her stories with others.
She says writing the first draft of a story feels like a conversation. After about a week she comes back to it with fresh eyes. “The editing process is always important, but especially with children’s books. I want every word to count, every sentence to shine,” Woodburn explained.
She then put the draft to the ultimate test. “I always read the draft to my daughters to gauge their reaction,” said Woodburn. “What parts make them laugh, what do they like the best, are there any parts where they lose interest?”
Woodburn has written nine other books, ranging from young adult novels to literary short story collections to a gift book about 1,001 ways to be kind. She is an enthusiastic supporter of young writers as the founder of Write On! Books, a literacy organization and publishing company. She offers guided mentorships for young writers, teaches creative writing workshops and enjoys speaking to schools.
For information on Woodburn’s books, workshops and her podcast, visit dallaswoodburn.com.
