Local author and teacher Kelly Young-Silverman is taking young readers on a delicious journey through the Peach State with her new children's book, Hot Boiled Peanuts: A Georgia Food Tour. This charming tale follows a child and her grandparents on a road trip across Georgia, sampling local delicacies and exploring historical landmarks from Savannah to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Kelly's inspiration came from a conversation with a fellow author who asked if she had ever written a book about Georgia. This sparked an idea that combined her passion for education with her love for Georgia's rich culinary traditions. "As a teacher, I knew if I wrote this book, it needed to be both fun and engaging for families while also being educational enough to be shared in schools," she explains.
The book resonates with readers both in and outside of Georgia, celebrating familiar foods and landmarks while introducing new experiences. "So many families have approached me to say, 'I've been there,' or 'I remember summers where we'd buy hot boiled peanuts from roadside stands,'" Kelly shares. The universal themes of family, travel, and trying new things make it relatable to readers everywhere, including her own family, who always inspire her to write.
While Kelly hopes to encourage young readers to explore different cultures and cuisines, her primary goal as a writer, teacher, and mom is to inspire a love of reading. "I want to inspire them to read a book, relate to it, and then feel motivated to tell their own stories," she says. Kelly believes Southern cuisine tells a story of community, history, and love, and she wants children to feel connected to that tradition.
With Hot Boiled Peanuts now available at local shops like The Bookworm and Barnes & Noble, Kelly is already working on her next projects, including her fourth book due this fall. You can follow her journey on her website and social media, where she shares updates on upcoming events. For now, she invites readers to join her on this tasty tour of Georgia, one bite at a time.
Find out more!
Website: kellyyoungsilverman.com
Facebook: Kelly Young-Silverman, Author
Instagram: @ youngsilvermankelly