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Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story

Created by Jayme Sandberg

Secure your first edition copy and related merchandise of the 32-page children's picture book "Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story" from author Jayme Sandberg and illustrator Kathleen Gadeken. Bonus materials in the book include a glossary, a special note to Earthlings about solar viewing safety, and an eclipse journal page. Through a tale of celestial friendship, the book explores the awe-inspiring phenomenon of a total solar eclipse and the unexpected ways we shine together. "Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story" is the perfect companion for educators and parents of early elementary students who will experience the North American Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Exciting book updates with just one month to go to the eclipse!
20 days ago – Fri, Mar 08, 2024 at 07:54:32 AM

Today marks exactly one month until the EPIC North American Eclipse on April 8, 2024, which means its time to get down to business!

If your reward included activity pages, a companion workbook PDF with 29 downloadable worksheets landed in your inbox this morning. This is also available as a paid download on www.SolarEclipseBook.com to support our teacher friends. Some of the pages are also available as free downloads on our resources page.

If your rewards included the party toolkit, that has been digitally delivered as well. Did someone say "Tequila Sunrise" while listening to "Here Comes the Sun?" I think so!

Exciting Updates:

  • We sold out our first paperback printing! 10,000 more paperback books arrived at my house this week on two very heavy pallets. Ordering this quantity allows us to pass on big savings to schools and create a fundraising opportunity! 
  • The book is now available in Spanish online wherever books are sold as Eclipse Total de Sol: Un cuento de amistad. How cool is that?! We're providing 175 of them at minimal cost to a title one school in the Dallas area to help pay forward what YOU made possible.
  • The book is now available through booksellers in hardcover as well as www.SolarEclipseBook.com Our quality is still better, but they are running out and we won't be ordering more.
  • So far we've supported or have in the works money-raisers for a women's education initiative, a local PTA, three literacy organizations, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, a bookstore whose mission is to raise up quality indie titles, and more. Organizations who have started selling are already coming back for more books! 
  • I did a radio media tour in February with 16 interviews across the country thanks to the superstars at Definition 6/Bridgenext. What fun!
  • Our book will be at several bookstores and shops along the path of totality for the millions of tourists expected to travel for the eclipse. We still have time (and inventory) to supply others, too!
  • Kathleen and I have a combined nine school visits in the next few weeks to prepare kids in the path of totality for the big day, while sharing messages of teamwork and our author/illustrator journeys.
  • I'll be holding signings at Grapevine's Talking Animal Books (also funded on Kickstarter!)(March 30), Explorium Denton (March 30), Denton , Waco's STEAMclipse (April 6), The Gatesville (a.k.a. Eclipseville) festival (April 6) and Frontier's of Flight Museum's Sun-Day (April 7)

Help Wanted

  • With the eclipse around the corner, it's time for boots on the ground, er, bumper magnets on cars. If you're up for being a mobile billboard, please fill out this form to get your free magnet.
  • If you would like to raise money for your group or organization, let me know! You get to keep 40-50% of proceeds and can return whatever doesn't sell (they'll sell). The ROI is better than cookie dough and it doesn't spoil on the front porch.
  • Please continue to spread the word! Share our website, leave an Amazon review, talk up the book at happy hour, send a note to your PTA or school board. It makes all the difference.

I have to pinch myself that in less than 9 months we've sold THOUSANDS of our books online, ran out of our first paperback printing, and received overwhelmingly positive reviews. We wouldn't be here without every single one of you. Thank you isn't enough, but thank you all the same.

Together we really do shine.

Jayme

Claim your spot on our Street Team by ordering a free bumper magnet.
The magic of radio and mail made it seem like I was in the studio. So grateful for the opportunity to talk about the eclipse and our practical and meaningful book.
Good goes 'round. A Kickstarter backer worked with me to share the book with her school district. They are also taking advantage of a sales discount for the books.

Our latest blog post is about you!
5 months ago – Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 12:15:44 PM

Greetings Backers!

We wanted to let you know about our latest blog post featuring...you! We are big about giving recognition where recognition is due, and you definitely deserve it for helping us bring our book to life in print form. Backers who opted in to the website recognition can be seen here. Please feel free to share the link.

Even though we experienced persistent cloud cover during our book signing and eclipse viewing event at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Saturday in Southeastern Nebraska, we still had a great time signing books and reading to museum guests. And it brought us joy to see so many of you using your solar viewers and marveling at the strange shadows where you could see the partial eclipse clearly!

Jayme and Kathleen sign books for fans at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum on October 14, 2023 in Ashland, Nebraska.

We'll be chasing the total solar eclipse next April, and hope you will be, too. If you thought last week was cool/inspiring/odd, just wait until you see totality! Get those hotel reservations now, they're already hard to come by in places expected to have favorable weather conditions. 

We're cruising through our printed books and expect to place another order in early 2024. If any of your school districts or organizations are interested in a bulk order discount, please have them reach out ASAP so we can give them the best deal and best quality printing possible.

As always, thanks for your support. Together we shine!

Jayme

Update - 665 books sold
6 months ago – Thu, Oct 05, 2023 at 01:55:37 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Rewards, reviews, and an astronaut encounter
7 months ago – Fri, Sep 01, 2023 at 08:13:44 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

The Books Have Arrived!
8 months ago – Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 01:08:14 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.