"I grew up in Los Altos, Calif. Ever since the age of 10, I knew that I wanted to be a writer, and since the age of 12, I also knew that I would be a traveler when I read a complete encyclopedia set called "Lands and Peoples." This has led me to visit 104 countries, with the bonus of learning seven languages along the way. I met my husband, Joe, as a fellow Peace Corps volunteer in 1973. We were volunteers for five years in Honduras, Kenya and the Seychelles. Upon finishing Peace Corps, we took a 3 1/2 year trip that got us from the Seychelles, down the Nile for 1000 miles, seven months crewing on a 55-foot trimaran in the Caribbean, then overland from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego and back. "
Cristinal Kessler and her husband were Peace Corps Volunteers for five years in Honduras, Kenya and the Seychelles
Cristinal Kessler Signs Latest Children's Book at Dockside Bookshop
by Source staff
Come take a photo safari through six African countries with award-winning children's author Cristina Kessler. She will present a slide show of six different African countries--where she lived for many years and where her many books are set--at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at Dockside Bookshop. Her latest book is "Trouble In Timbuktu," an adventure story for readers ages 9 and up, which takes place in Mali. Her books also take readers to Ethiopia, Niger, Sudan, Kenya and Swaziland. Children always have a lot of questions for Crisitina, so she will answer questions after her presentation as well as sign copies of her books.
Kessler's comments about the slideshow:
In my books I try to bring kids closer together around the world. "Muhamad's Desert Night" is a book based on a real Tuareg boy. The slides are of Muhamad, his family, his goats and Tuareg life in general. I hope that by introducing different cultures to young kids, especially in schools that have become very multi-cultural, kids will start life with an interest in, and acceptance of, different customs and cultures.
There is also a wildlife show with bizarre information about the animals and stories about my close encounters with wildlife over 19 years in Africa. Many of these encounters appear in "Our Secret, Siri Aang." By talking about my unusual lifestyle, which includes 31 years of travel to 106 countries on seven continents, and learning seven languages along the way, I hope to inspire kids that they can be and do anything they want. As one little girl told me, "I love to write and I love to travel, so I'm perfect for the job. Never thought of it before. Thanks."
Books written by Cristina Kessler:
Kessler has a personal writing agenda: to get the good news out about Africa.
"One Night" celebrates the Tuareg culture of Niger, All the King's Animals tells a little-known African conservation success story, and "Konte Chameleon, Fine, Fine, Fine!" re-tells a folktale from West Africa about why the chameleon never hurries.
My first Young Adult novel, "No Condition Is Permanent," is the first time I have written something that questions an aspect of African life - female circumcision - while simultaneously celebrating rural African life. It's a book about cross-cultural friendships, harmful traditional practices and discovering where to draw the line personally in what you can do to help a friend.
"My Great-Grandmother's Gourd" is set in Sudan and tells the story of modern technology replacing traditional ways, and ultimately the wisdom of combining the old and the new. It's based on a true event, and shares the universal theme of "Don't mess with my grandmother", and family loyalty.
"Jubela" is set in Swaziland and is a survival story about rhino poaching. It also is based on a true story about a baby rhino that was adopted by an old matriarch rhino when his mother was killed by poachers.
"Our Secret, Siri Aang" is set in Maasailand, Kenya and is about a culture facing change, rhino poaching and bush survival. It was released in October 2004.
In "The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela," a young girl strives to produce the best honey in her Ethiopian town.
About the author, in her own words:
I grew up in Los Altos, Calif. Ever since the age of 10, I knew that I wanted to be a writer, and since the age of 12, I also knew that I would be a traveler when I read a complete encyclopedia set called "Lands and Peoples." This has led me to visit 104 countries, with the bonus of learning seven languages along the way. I met my husband, Joe, as a fellow Peace Corps volunteer in 1973. We were volunteers for five years in Honduras, Kenya and the Seychelles. Upon finishing Peace Corps, we took a 3 1/2 year trip that got us from the Seychelles, down the Nile for 1000 miles, seven months crewing on a 55-foot trimaran in the Caribbean, then overland from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego and back.
We spent five months on an uninhabited island in the Galapagos, tagging turtles for the Darwin Research Station, and went to Antarctica for 3 ½ weeks with the Chilean Navy. From 1981 to 2001 Joe worked for CARE and we lived in Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Honduras, Mexico, Niger, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia and Mali. Between Niger and Mozambique in 1990, we took a seven-month trip to the South Pacific. In 2001 we moved from the southern reaches of the Sahara Desert to the Caribbean Sea on St. John, U.S.V.I. My philosophy in life is "Any trip, Anywhere, Anytime!" I visit Africa at least once a year, and sometimes twice.
I began writing for children in 1981, when I sold my first manuscript to "Highlights for Children." Since that time, I have written for magazines in Asia, Africa, America and Europe. I have also worked for various international organizations, doing the writing, photography and layout design for fundraising materials.
Just recently I have started my own program called KIDSCARE, organizing kids in the United States and Europe to help fellow students in schools in Africa or to raise money to buy wheelchairs for kids around the world. I love it – helping kids help other kids.
