Welcome to my Lone Star Literary blog tour for FOR SPACIOUS SKIES, KATHARINE LEE BATES AND THE INSPIRATION FOR “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”!

You can follow along here and on the Lone Star Literary page here.

I’ll be updating this post from April 16-25 with links to my tour stops and other cool things happening with the book.

And the tour begins!

April 16: Two posts!

Book Fidelity, with a Notable Quotable and book giveaway

and

Carpe Diem Chronicles by Maida Malby

"Exquisitely illustrated, inspiring, and educational, For Spacious Skies is a gem of a picture biography I would strongly recommend elementary school librarians, reading teachers, and parents of school-age kids purchase right away."-- carpe_diem_chronicles

Thanks for the wonderful review for FOR SPACIOUS SKIES, Maida Malby!

4/17/20 Book Trailer KayBee's Book Shelf

4/17/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog

“The book is a wonderful story, a great history lesson, and enjoyable to visually peruse. With brilliant illustrations, it shows how much just one person can accomplish and the impact someone can have on their fellow people. I hope young girls find it especially empowering to read this illustrated biography.”— Chapter Break Book Blog

4/18/20 Sneak Peek Hall Ways Blog

4/19/20 Author Interview and Book Review StoreyBook Reviews

“This book captures some of our history that might be lost and the format is perfect for anyone to read and whet their appetite for more about Katharine or anyone else that helped shape our country.  We give this book 5 paws up.”— StoreyBook Reviews

4/20/20 Review Story Schmoozing Book Reviews

“For Spacious Skies is not just a story about how the song "America the Beautiful" came to be, but how the perseverance of Katharine Lee Bates inspired a nation of women who wanted more - more out of life, more out of their country, and especially more out of themselves. An inspirational story from start to finish! A great addition to your school or public library! 5 Hearts! 💖💖💖💖💖 — Story Schmoozing Book Reviews

4/21/20 Playlist of famous folks singing “America the Beautiful” on Texas Book Lover

Performed by Ray Charles, a month after 9/11, at the 2001 World Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OTRRzSuWro

Performed by Beyoncé at President Obama’s inaugural ceremony in 2008: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAmydqJmDtY

Performed by James Taylor at President Obama’s second inauguration in 2012:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd91jKd5rIk

Performed by Willie Nelson on July 4, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl0SIC3chbc

Performed by Judy Garland in 1964: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaPkkOYg4cQ

Performed by Leslie Odom Jr. at the Super Bowl NFL Pre-Game February 4, 2018:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR9HYwz4N6M
Performed by Garth Brooks at the Points of Light Tribute event on March 21, 2011, in Washington, DC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVeauXNp1Y
Performed by Leontyne Price with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jovQPbJXTEU
In sign language, step by step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvuI7i36-pE
Performed by Norah Jones at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and John Glenn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGNRg4_fEiA

4/21/20 Review That's What She's Reading

“A captivating addition to any library that renders a salute to a notable woman and the powerful words she penned while also creatively engaging all readers in an inspiring history lesson.”

4/22/20 Author Interview Tangled in Text

“I write about people who inspire me and that I believe will inspire kids to be the heroes and heroines of their own lives.”

4/23/20 Guest Post Max Knight

To me, that is true patriotism—not just loving your country, but helping your country live up to her ideals of equality and kindness.

4/23/20 Review All the Ups and Downs

“…For Spacious Skies is the ultimate girl power book. Katharine Lee Bates was obviously a force to be reckoned with according to this book. If you're looking for a book with a strong female and beautiful illustrations, pick up a copy of For Spacious Skies. I would definitely recommend For Spacious Skies by Nancy Churnin to adults and children aged 8 and older. I feel as if this book needs to be required reading in all elementary schools and should be in every school library. That's how good and informative it is. Grab a copy, and see for yourself!”

4/24/20 Deleted Scene Reading by Moonlight

4/25/20 Review Forgotten Winds

“Timeless books that can be an example that girls or women can accomplish anything they want will always be needed. For Spacious Skies by Nancy Churnin fits impeccably in that category. This story is carried by the art of Olga Baumert. Her depictions are a mix of impressionistic and post-impressionistic art with hints of Georges Seurat and Claude Monet.”

4/25/20 Review Jennifer Silverwood

A perfect teaching tool for older elementary students, For Spacious Skies finds its strength in its underlying message for younger generations: the smallest person can spark big change.

Please explore nancychurnin.com/forspaciousskies for a free Teacher Guide, resources and the FOR SPACIOUS LINES project, where kids can share ways in which they’re making America more beautiful. Plus, a giveaway! I look forward to your comments and questions.

I’ll also be featured on the free Dallas Association of School Librarians Texas Author panel Thursday from 6-7 CST . You can sign up here.

And there’s more! I hope you’ll sign up to visit with Teresa Robeson and me for our joint ZOOM book launch, hosted by The Writer’s Barn and Book People in Austin. It takes place May 1 after this blog tour concludes, but spots are going fast!

You can sign up here.

And here’s another chance to win FOR SPACIOUS SKIES or GRANDPA GRUMPS or THE BOY WHO THOUGHT OUTSIDE THE BOX from 20/20 Vision Picture Books. Click to enter the Rafflecopter here: