Designed for children and adults who are unfamiliar with early 20th century farming culture, “Let’s Go See Mother Wilkerson’s Farm: Adventures in Learning Excellence,” published by AuthorHouse, is the new book from Earnest Hooks Jr. and the Lizzie Wilkerson Foundation that brings to life a forgotten, yet important, historical era.

“Let’s Go See Mother Wilkerson’s Farm” takes readers on adventures designed to enrich early learning and growth experiences. “The intent is to expand the learning experiences and create a passion to sustain the desire for learning that will extend into a lifetime productive experience,” Hooks explains. “In other words, an indelible rewarding experience which each student can begin to manage alone, without coaching or aid of a teacher, except for an occasional midcourse adjustment.”

A milk churn, a sausage-making machine, a well and a rub board are familiar to a few keen observers. However, for an increasingly large portion of the population, these objects of farm history are entirely foreign. Created to enhance children’s reading and writing skills beginning at preschool ages, “Let’s Go See Mother Wilkerson’s Farm” speaks through the extraordinary works of artist Mother Lizzie Wilkerson, born in 1900 in rural Georgia as the youngest of 21 children. Wilkerson’s “brilliant and unique” talent was discovered through a Georgia State University outreach program in 1978. Five years later, Tom Brokaw of NBC Nightly News featured her GSU exhibit in a clip and said, “…every piece sold; some pieces for as much as $500.” Her artwork hangs in some of the most prestigious museums in the United States, including the Museum of American Folk Art in New York, N.Y., the National Museum of American Folk Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Ga. In this new book, Wilkerson’s artwork fills readers with excitement as they discover a vibrant, productive culture from a century ago.

In the upcoming second volume of “Let’s Go See Mother Wilkerson’s Farm,” the adventures continue. Volume 2 will feature five more adventures: “Enterprise” exposes readers to the “classic model” for enterprise and the Golden Seven Values; “Your Winning Future” features a picture album of young, successful, inspiring achievers; “Self-Expression Adventure” uses poetry to help readers manage life learning and growth challenges; “World Travel Adventure” introduces learners to the exciting world of geography; and “The Platinum Growth Adventure” encourages readers to read books from a reading list, to eat more fruits and vegetables, to visit a farm and to write an essay for class reading. Also included are farm locations in the metro Atlanta area for future visits and study.

Earnest Hooks Jr. is a native of Atlanta, where he met Lizzie Wilkerson as a young child. He attended Howard University’s School of Architecture and Harvard’s GSD Professional Development Program. A registered architect and certified building biologist, Hooks has served as a mentor for local children for several years and is an Introduction Leader for Landmark Education, Inc. He considers writing to be his second passion to architecture and design. For more information, visit www.wilkersonbooks.com.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

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