When They Were Kids series debuts with
Growing Up As...Taylor Swift

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A unique biography series for kids ages 8-12 focuses on notable icons before they were famous. Young readers will delight in learning about their favorite heroes when they were kids, starting with Taylor Swift!

 

Taylor Swift was so popular as a teenager that she sold out her 2009 concert at Staples Center in two minutes. Tickets at Madison Square Garden? Gone in 60 seconds.

 

In Growing Up As…Taylor Swift, award-winning author Angela Gail Griffin explains why girls gravitated by the millions to this country music star. “Like Taylor, young girls may have experienced a broken heart. Or they may have been angry after a breakup. Or they may have felt lonely and left out. Taylor’s songs have helped her listeners understand that everyone goes through tough times. She has made them feel like they aren’t alone.”

 

THE SERIES: When They Were Kids

Growing Up As…Taylor Swift is the debut book in the series When They Were Kids, the first initiative of Owl Moon Press. In this biography series, readers aged 8-12 will delve into the childhoods of their heroes, with each 10,000-word book focusing almost exclusively on the subject’s younger years. Original art will adorn the cover as well as each chapter of the book.

 

There is no other biography series like it!

 

THE BOOK: Growing Up As…Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift had very few friends growing up. While exploring the essence of Taylor, we learn many fascinating stories along the way, such as:

 

Chapter 1: Dear Diary, Can We Talk?

In what Taylor describes as a “magical twist of fate,” a computer repairman teaches her how to play guitar.

 

Chapter 2: Dear Family, I Love You

After informing her mother that she likes the James Taylor song “Fire and Rain,” Mom tells her for the first time that she was named after James Taylor.

 

Chapter 3: Dear LeAnn, I Want to Sing Like You

Shunned by jealous girls in school because of her talent, Taylor immersed herself in school musicals and emulating her favorite singers, particularly LeAnn Rimes.

 

Chapter 4: Dear Nashville, Here I Come

When the Swifts move to Nashville, her parents tell her it is only for a lifestyle change, not for her career, as they do not want to place a burden on her young shoulders.

 

Chapter 5: Dear People, Hear My Voice

Teenage Taylor tells the stories behind her songs, including “Teardrops on My Guitar,” about Drew, the major crush who preferred a different girl.

 

Chapter 6: Dear Diary, My Dream Came True

Taylor Swift becomes so famous that one couple asks her to hold their baby, just so that they can “tell her someday that you held her.”

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THE PUBLISHER: Owl Moon Press

Owl Moon Press Editor and Publisher David Aretha brings 33 years of book publishing experience to this new venture. David has written nearly 100 books for young readers and has edited hundreds of books in many genres, garnering more than 25 awards and honors. Visit his website at www.davidaretha.com. David has edited the writings of such notable Americans as Margaret Truman, John Eisenhower, Walter Cronkite, Tom Hayden, Congressman John Lewis, and President Barack Obama.

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Additional installments in the series will feature notable icons from history, music, film, sports, science, and more, from Benjamin Franklin to Malala Yousafzai. Families and educators will welcome a series that educates and inspires children to hold on to their dreams and reach for the stars.

 

If you would like more information about the When We Were Kids series, please contact daretha@live.com or continue exploring this website!