Authors Donate 500 Pirate Books to Save The Children

To improve children’s literacy in Eastern Kentucky, Portland authors Laura Sams and Robert Sams donated 500 copies of their award-winning book, A Pirate’s Quest, to Save the Children. The books were distributed to four elementary schools in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Save the Children is an organization dedicated to creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. In the United States, Save the Children provides high-quality early childhood development, literacy, and physical activity and nutrition programs to more than 21,000 children in underserved, rural communities in 14 states. Eastern Kentucky is a focus area, where the Samses’ donation will be used to promote literacy and enthusiasm for reading.

Save The Children was featured on American Idol, where the Publishers of A Pirate's Quest first had the idea to donate the books. They contacted Laura and Robert, who enthusiastically supported the initiative.

A Pirate’s Quest, the winner of seven major awards, (including the Midwest Book Award for Best Children's Picture Book and a Mom's Choice Award for Adventurers and Heroes) helps children learn how life on earth is connected by moving water. The story follows a pirate who has lost his family heirloom peg leg in a tiny lake far from the sea. To find it, the pirate embarks on a quest past wildlife, wetlands and water. The book includes more than fifty original oil paintings by Heiner Hertling, an award-winning artist and host of the PBS television show Your Brush With Nature.

“The book is really about perseverance, and never giving up,” Laura Sams said. “That is a message important for everyone, but it’s especially important for children who are growing up without lots of extra resources.”

The sister/brother creative duo also donated four copies of their award-winning DVD movie, The Riddle in a Bottle, upon which the book is based, to the four elementary schools. The movie is the winner of 21 awards, including the Best of Children's Programming in the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and a KIDS FIRST! Best of the Year Award for children ages five through twelve.

A Pirate’s Quest and The Riddle in a Bottle are available at many area gift shops and book stores, including Borders and Barnes & Noble or through the www.sisbro.com.