What on earth is a fish tree?! IEEE-USA E-BOOKS’ youngest published author, Sonali Ranaweera, believes we must all encourage young children to think outside the box, and expand their imaginations. At only 11 years of age, Ranaweera wrote Abigail and The Fish Tree, and did just that. At the time, she was a student in the sixth grade at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos, California
Ranaweera was 17, a senior at Del Mar High School in San Jose, California, when IEEE-USA edited, designed and published her e-book. She explains that the story she tells is not realistic—but that’s okay. “When writing a book, or doing anything else creative, it’s important to use your imagination,” she said, “It opens doors to other worlds. It may even help people open their minds to new ideas.”
In 34 colorful, imaginative pages, Ranaweera’s book relates the story of a young girl who uses her curiosity and creativity to produce a gardening wonder in her family’s backyard. When she sees that the fish tree she grew is not perfect—after all, the tree has a fishy smell; and birds can steal the fish off the tree—Abigail instinctively does what almost any inventor knows: makes plans to improve the next version.
Intended for children ages 5 to 8, Abigail and The Fish Tree offers a valuable tool to encourage youngsters not only to enhance their reading skills, but also to explore their own curiosities—and embark on their own creative adventures. Older elementary and middle school students can also use the book in writing assignments–as an example of how to use their imaginations.
Now, for the first time, IEEE-USA E-BOOKS is releasing this e-book as an audio book—free—to IEEE members in November. From 1 November through 15 December, IEEE members can download their free audio version of Abigail and the Fish Tree, in MP3 format, at: https://ieeeusa.org/sdm_downloads/audiobook-abigail-the-fish-tree/.
You can also purchase the companion e-book version of Abigail and the Fish Tree for the special discounted price of $2.99 for members. Non-members pay $4.99. It would be a great way for your children to read along, as they listen!
Many engineers say their own curiosity about improving the world started at a young age; so, IEEE-USA E-BOOKS is delighted to offer IEEE Members this beautiful, quality story, in both this free audio book and the e-book versions, to help stimulate more young imaginations.
Be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity—download your free audio book, and purchase the e-book—and share them with your children today. Start early to help them make learning and experimenting fun!
In addition, don’t forget to check out IEEE-USA’s other six audio books: Staying Sharp, Vol. 1—Tips for Staying Sharp Inside Your Company; Staying Sharp, Vol. 2—Tips for Staying Sharp Outside Your Company; Developing Your Path—A Guide to Landing Your Dream Career; Secrets to Being a World-Changer—Part 1: The Being of Leadership; Secrets to Being a World-Changer—Part 2: The Doing of Leadership; and Women in Engineering, Book 4: Finding Success Through Learning.
You can download any of these audio books from IEEE-USA free, by visiting: https://ieeeusa.org/product-category/audiobooks/.
Georgia C. Stelluto is IEEE-USA’s Publishing Manager; Manager/Editor of IEEE-USA E-BOOKS; InFocus Department Editor for IEEE-USA InSight; and Co-Editor of the IEEE-USA Conference Brief.
