Jennifer Piercy鈥檚 adventures as a children鈥檚 book author first began at the 海角直播.
Piercy, an elementary education major, was assigned to write and illustrate a children鈥檚 book for an elementary mathematics-education class. The book, Ellie鈥檚 Math Adventure, focused on a young elephant that longs for an expensive new bicycle.
鈥淭hroughout the story, you take the journey with her and see how determination and hard work help her toward her goal of buying the bike of her dreams,鈥� said Piercy. 鈥淭he book was designed not only to help children learn a math lesson, but also to provide life lessons that would make it captivating for readers of all ages.鈥�
Gina Gresham, an associate professor in the College of Education, was so impressed after grading Piercy鈥檚 assignment that she encouraged her to have the book published.
After Piercy graduated from UCF in 2009, the book continued to receive support from family members, especially her grandfather. In fact, it was her grandfather who pursued the publication process when Piercy was working as a teacher full time.
鈥淢y grandfather was not only a huge part of the publication process, but more importantly he was a positive influence on my life,鈥� said Piercy. 鈥淗e was the one that pushed me the most to have this book published, and began the publication process when I was teaching and didn鈥檛 have much time on my hands.鈥�
The book was published in February, but Piercy鈥檚 grandfather passed away before the publication process was completed.
鈥淭o see my book on the Barnes & Noble website was one of the most thrilling experiences I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� said Piercy. 鈥淚 remember laughing and crying at the same time, because I was happy that I had finally done it, but sad at the same time that my Papa wasn鈥檛 there to celebrate with me in person. I definitely think he was jumping up and down from above with excitement and joy for all that I鈥檇 accomplished.鈥�
Piercy will embark on a book tour this summer and hopes that the book will be incorporated in classrooms across the country as a tool to teach money and addition lessons.
For more information about Ellie鈥檚 Math Adventure visit, 聽.