Raleigh and the State of North Carolina:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know (Arcadia Kids) - Softcover

Kate Boehm Jerome loves to write educational books for kids! Her award-winning programs are avidly read by thousands of young people in homes and schools throughout the United States. Jerome has spent an entire career developing educational programs for kids. After spending 15 years in educational publishing, she made the leap to full-time writing in 2001. Since then, her unique perspectives and original voice have inspired her to create and direct hundreds of children's books in many different series. Jerome's books have earned Teacher's Choice and Children's Book Council awards, and her new series that is currently launching "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" (Arcadia, 2010) is already receiving kudos from the very people who often inspire her the most--the mommy bloggers! Kate is an active volunteer in her local school district and is a member of various Boards and organizations that promote both child and adult literacy--and, in particular, science literacy.

Title: N.C. book joins 'Cool Stuff' series

Author: BROOKE CAIN

Publisher: News Observer

Date:6/13/2011
"Raleigh and the State of North Carolina: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" is part of a new series of books from Arcadia Publishing of Charleston, S.C., that delivers some painless summer learning in a child-friendly blend of facts, photos and graphics.
Arcadia's "Cool Stuff" series, which currently features books on 22 U.S. cities, is written by Kate Boehm Jerome, who also conceived the series. Jerome, based in Charleston, has been producing educational materials for children for more than 25 years.
Many local kids may already know some of the information in the book, which is aimed at ages 7 to 11: Raleigh has a hockey team and a giant acorn, and hosts the State Fair. Notable here is Jerome's deft delivery of educational trivia designed to enlighten children (and perhaps adults) about more cultured aspects of the town, tidbits on the local ballet, symphony and theater scenes, as well as facts on history and science.
Jerome says teachers, parents and grandparents love the books and the educational motives behind them, but her inspiration for writing is children.
"I love their curiosity and perspective," she said. "I'll go to downtown Charleston and see kids with their parents on the popular horse and carriage rides. The parents are always listening intently to the tour guide and looking at the beautiful buildings, but the kids are constantly glancing at the diaper on the horse, just praying for a malfunction!"
Jerome says she has traveled to Raleigh many times and finds it a "delightful city." She tapped into many different sources to research the book, she said, and also asked Ryan Smith of the Greater Raleigh Convention Bureau for feedback on the finished project.
A small point of pain for parents perusing the book may be the part where Jerome touts Raleigh Wide Open as a fun downtown street festival. And it was. But the Raleigh City Council canceled the festival for this year, citing economic woes.
Of the book's 48 pages, about a quarter are devoted solely to Raleigh.