New Memoir Offers Insight into Boy Scouts of America Co-Founder

Ernest Thompson Seton, co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America, was a renowned and prolific writer, celebrated wildlife artist and forward-thinking conservationist. "The Storyteller: My Years With Ernest Thompson Seton," written by Seton's niece Leila Moss Knox, is her memoir of the three years during the 1930s she spent living with him in Santa Fe, N.M. A chapter book for children, The Storyteller provides a fascinating account of Leila's wilderness adventures with her uncle.

Seton won prestigious awards from both the American Museum of Natural History and the National Institute of Science; he was also an early inductee into the National Wildlife Federation's Conservation Hall of Fame and the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America. His books, as well as his Woodcraft League camps, inspired generations of youth to explore nature and enjoy the wonders of outdoor life. "The Storyteller" captures Ernest Thompson Seton as both a highly accomplished Renaissance man and an affectionate uncle who had a special bond with his young niece.

Though a number of biographies have been written about Seton, none have been written for children. "The Storyteller," studded with evocative photographs, excerpts from Seton's own much-loved writings and a foreword by famed folksinger Pete Seeger, fills this void by providing a previously unexplored vantage point. Perfect for the young and curious, "The Storyteller" is a book about adventures, relationships and explorations of the natural world.

"The Storyteller" is available everywhere books are sold.

Praise for "The Storyteller"

"[Leila Moss Knox] has written a delightful children's book that gives us a look at Ernest Thompson Seton in a way no researcher could. It provides a whole new perspective on Seton and delivers a true sense of what this important figure was like in the 1930s. Brilliant and flawless!"
- David L. Witt, curator of the Seton Legacy Project and author of 'Ernest Thompson Seton: The Life and Legacy of an Artist and Conservationist'

"When I started reading 'The Storyteller,' I couldn't put it down. The enchanting memories recorded in its pages held me spellbound. There have been several very good biographies of Seton, but none have captured the unique character of the man any better. When you add the reminiscences of the sights and sounds of 1930s New Mexico, the result is a fascinating story, vivid and easy to read. "
- Ron Edmonds, writer for "The Ernest Thompson Seton Pages"

About the Authors

Leila Moss Knox was born in California but spent three years of her childhood living in Santa Fe, N.M. with her uncle, Ernest Thompson Seton. After retiring from Stanford University, she and her husband traveled extensively through North America and Europe. "The Storyteller: My Life With Ernest Thompson Seton" is her first book.

Linda L. Knox is a school administrator in California and has extensive experience working with students and teachers in literacy. She co-founded, and for many years co-chaired, a district-wide student writing fair that after 20 years continues to nurture student writers and showcase their high-quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

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