Wrightwood, CA – August 12, 2010.  Author Dawn Menge has been using her character of Queen Vernita for the past two years to instill in her young readers an excitement for learning and spending time with friends.  Starting with her initial release in 2008, Queen Vernita’s Visitors, Menge developed a story concept in which the queen would welcome a new friend to visit her every month.  During their time together, the two would embark on a different adventure or learn a new fact for every day of the week.  This premise continued with Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains and Menge has now produced a third offering, entitled Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer (ISBN: 978-1-4327-3120-5).

Dawn Menge continues to build on the well-deserved recognition she received for Queen Vernita’s Visitors, which was awarded First Place in the Children’s category of the 2009 EVVY Awards, as the word spreads about the series in schools and libraries throughout her home state of California and beyond.  Currently, Menge is engaging young audiences with book readings at libraries in her area and she recently participated in a literacy scroll that is making its way around Southern California.  Menge has discovered with the experience of her two previous publications that she gets the most enjoyment out of her work when she is actively sharing her books with an audience.

One of the central themes of the Queen Vernita books is the intention of teaching young readers the twelve months and the days of the week.  While this point of focus is certainly included in Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer, Dawn Menge also engages older children with this book by sharing fascinating details about the planets, the sun, the moon, asteroids, and comets.  And, as always in the Queen Vernita series, the words are accompanied by bright, gorgeous illustrations that will lead to their own conversations.

An important message that is a part of all of Dawn Menge’s work, but that is particularly highlighted in her latest release, is that learning should be fun and contagious.  Every month in Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer ends with the guest excited to go home and share what he had learned with others, or perhaps even to do some more research himself.  This desire for knowledge is shown to be accessible to everyone, as Dawn Menge features male and female visitors of different ages and races, and two guests who face physical and mental challenges, and shows every guest learning and enjoying their experience.

Author Dawn Menge brings professional credentials to her writing, as she has worked in the field of education for more than a dozen years.  She holds a Masters Degree in Special Education and is working towards her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction.  Joining Menge in the writing of Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer is Heath Rhodes, a professional in the field of astronomy who also happens to the author’s brother.

“Encouraging children to develop a passion for learning and to share with others what they know has been a thrilling part of creating the Queen Vernita series,” shares Dawn Menge about her work as an author for young people.  “I hope that this new release will get kids, both boys and girls, excited about science and all of the unknown elements that space still offers for their exploration!”

Dawn Menge loves the opportunity to share Queen Vernita with live audiences and is available to read her books at schools, libraries, and community centers.  If you would like to arrange for Dawn Menge to speak to a young audience in your area, please contact her directly at Click here.

Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer is written by Dawn Menge and is published by Outskirts Press.  The collection can be purchased through Click here, at the Click here, or by request at your favorite bookstore.