Julia Heckathorn Releases Fourth Book in Hidden Clover Series to Educate About Pygmy Sloths

Julia Heckathorn was visiting Panama's Escudo Island in September, 2012, documenting for the first time what pygmy sloths eat and establishing relationships with local authorities, when she was bitten by a Fer-de-lance pit viper. Though as many as 50% of victims die, Heckathorn recovered. In surviving the island's most feared snake, she unexpectedly furthered her cause - saving the island's indigenous pygmy sloth.

One very tangible result of Heckathorn's efforts is the April 2013 dedication of Spanish editions of the fourth book in her Hidden Clover series to local Panamanian schools. Blending stories, pictures, cartoons, rhymes, and games, "Search for the Hidden Clover: Escudo Island" teaches children about the real-life need to preserve Escudo Island and protect the critically endangered pygmy sloths that live there.

Like the other books in the Hidden Clover series, Escudo Island features a boy, a girl, and a kangaroo who venture on an interactive journey with the goal of finding a four-leaf clover and discovering the natural world. Heckathorn comments, "The Hidden Clover vision is to deliver a perspective-changing experience. As the children of Escudo Island are learning to see the pygmy sloth as a proud symbol of their culture and region, children all over the world are learning how humans can responsibly live in harmony with nature."

"Search for the Hidden Clover" received a 2013 Award from the Awesome Foundation. Proceeds from book sales support Hidden Clover's conservation efforts to save the critically endangered pygmy sloth in cooperation with the Tree Foundation, the London Zoo, and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Julia Heckathorn and the Hidden Clover Team conduct educational events at schools, museums, and other venues around the world. They use live animals like kangaroos and anteaters to reinforce themes from the "Search for the Hidden Clover" books. To schedule a book reading, animal education, or other Hidden Clover event, to donate to Hidden Clover conservation, or to request review copies or media commentary, email Paige Mucciarone at info(at)searchforthehiddenclover(dot)com or visit http://www.searchforthehiddenclover.com.

"A sense of wonder...That is what Julia Heckathorn inspires in all of us with her exuberant combination of stories, photos, adventures, and facts about our natural world." - Meg Lowman, international canopy biologist and author, "Life in the Treetops"

AUTHOR: Julia Heckathorn, 28, loves nature, children, and artwork. She unites these passions in her "Search for the Hidden Clover" children's book series, educational events, and conservation projects, which simultaneously help children fall in love with reading and nature. She is USDA licensed for exotic animal exhibiting, and her current conservation project is saving the three-toed pygmy sloth species and its habitat, Escudo Island, Panama. To that end, she co-authored the Vision for Escudo Island, produced The Pygmy Sloths of Escudo Island videos, and built partnerships with various organizations including the London Zoo, Dallas World Aquarium, Tree Foundation, and Conavi. She is also the author of

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