Dancing With Tex
Book Summary: (short)
Dancing With Tex: The Remarkable Friendship To Save The Whooping Cranes.
Based on a true story, Dancing With Tex shares the heartwarming friendship between a man and a rare bird. George Archibald is a young ornithologist from Canada who wants to save the cranes. Tex is a rare Whooping Crane from Texas who believes she belongs with people. Together, they become friends with a special mission: to save the Whooping Cranes from dying off forever. Can they do what no one has done before?
Book Summary (long)
Based on a true story, Dancing With Tex: The Remarkable Friendship To Save The Whooping Cranes is bound to delight and inspire children of all ages. Tex is a rare Whooping Crane from Texas who believes she belongs with people. George Archibald is a young ornithologist from Canada, who wants to save the cranes. Together, their friendship has a special mission: saving the Whooping Cranes from extinction.
Both George Archibald and his college friend, Ron Sauey do something no one has ever done before. They create a place to care for all fifteen species of cranes. It becomes The International Crane Foundation. After collecting 14 different species of cranes, the young men are missing the rarest type of all: The Whooping Crane.
George and Ron manage to bring two Whooping Cranes, Tex and Tony, to their place. They need Tex to bring more Whooping Crane chicks into the world. All cranes dance with a partner they like before laying an egg. Tex won’t dance with Tony. Will she dance with George? How can George help her lay an egg? What happens when everything keeps going wrong?
As our planet faces ongoing environmental concerns, Dancing With Tex reinforces the importance of caring for our endangered species, as well as following our dreams to make a positive impact in the world. This story made national news on the Johnny Carson show back in 1982, and it’s still relevant today.
Author Bio:
Lynn Sanders, Founder and President of Difference Makers Media, is a story marketing expert, whose passion is creating inspiring stories that make a positive impact. Her writing expertise has been featured in print, radio and television commercials, trade shows, videos and articles. Lynn’s strategic writing, marketing and media help socially conscious business leaders expand their exposure, build their impact and attract revenue. Lynn is the author of the non-fiction book, Social Justice: How You Can Make A Difference, published by Capstone Press. She is also the writer/co-producer of the award-winning video, Things You Should Know Before Entering The Hospital.
Illustrator Bio:
Sergio Drumond is a painter, illustrator, animator, and digital graphic artist who has worked for clients around the world. Sergio’s worldwide experience includes studies at Escola de Belas Artes in Bahia; Illustration and Commercial art at SENAC; painting at Goethe Institut under German painter Adam Firnekaes; and engraving with engraver and Art Museum curator, Emanuel Araujo. Sergio’s portfolio includes illustrating for advertisements, books, posters, magazines, newspapers and television.
News Story
The Republic, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Crane’s story promotes positive message
- Jake Prinsen jprinsen@capitalnewspapers.com, 608-356-4808 ext. 233
Jul 28, 2016
An illustrated children’s book telling the story of George Archibald’s friendship with a domesticated crane is available for readers of all ages.
“Dancing With Tex: The Remarkable Friendship to Save the Whooping Cranes” by Lynn Sanders is a personal tale that George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, told Sanders more than two decades ago.
While she was working on a video project at the Crane Foundation in 1995, Archibald told Sanders off camera about his friendship with a rare whooping crane named Tex. The bird had been “imprinted,” or domesticated by a zookeeper, so she believed people were part of her natural family and avoided other birds.
At that time in the 1970s, whooping cranes were on the verge of extinction, so it was important for Tex to reproduce. However, cranes perform a mating dance before laying eggs, and Tex had no mate to dance with because she didn’t get along with other birds. Archibald took it upon himself to become Tex’s dancing partner.
After six years of dancing, Tex was able to lay an egg, and her offspring helped save the whooping cranes. Archibald even made an appearance on the Johnny Carson show to tell the story in 1982.
“This is a very important historical story that I think everyone should know about,” Sanders said. “It raises environmental awareness among youth and also promotes positive values like having faith and perseverance in pursuing your dreams.”
Sanders is president of Difference Makers Media and has helped a wide range of clients tell their stories through a variety of mediums for the past 30 years. She said her goal is to bring people more positive media.
“We need more positive stories so that we can be more inspired and motivated and make a difference in the world in whatever we do,” she said.
Rick Fox is a former board member of the International Crane Foundation and said Archibald is one of his environmental heroes. He also is familiar with Sanders’ work.
“I think she did a remarkable job with this,” Fox said. “She took a remarkable science story and turned it into a feel-good children’s book.”
It took nearly a decade for the story to reach its final form. At one point the story was almost published by a traditional press, but the company ran out of funding. Sanders and two of her colleagues then adapted the story into a children’s musical in 2008, and it ran two nights at the former Theatre Building Chicago before the theatre was sold.
But like Tex and Archibald, Sanders said she was able to persevere.
“It’s so important for people to realize that they can do something positive to make a difference,” she said.