Jane Saves the Canyon

Jane Saves the Canyon is the first volume in a series of children's books written by talented first-time author Shawne V. Shiflett. The book provides inspiration and tools to both children and adults who want to make a difference in their community or even in the world through a concept called WeActivism. WeActivism is what can happen when we all work together to achieve a common goal. The author also explains how to get there by using a process called the 4A Formula.

The book is about a true story told through a poem about Jane Garrison, an animal and environmental activist and the author's cousin and friend, who decided to save a pristine canyon called Oswit Canyon in gorgeous Palm Springs, California from being developed into hundreds of homes. Beautiful, fun, colorful illustrations help tell the story the charming poem lays out in a melodic recounting of what Jane did to accomplish this enormous task. The South Lykken Trail and Oswit Canyon are prime internationally known ecotourist destinations in Palm Springs that draw thousands annually. Development here would have removed them forever. Stopping this plan to build these homes also meant saving animals who live in the canyon like the majestic endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and the cute little desert fox! Through Jane's inspiring and effective leadership, the people of Palm Springs successfully came together and put their energy, time and money into a five-year effort to save this canyon.

Through this and future volumes in this series of books, Shiflett seeks to shine a light on individuals who ignite and inspire such action as well as encourage her readers to get involved in the big issues they face in their own communities. She will also help this effort herself as 50% of net profits from this book will be donated to Save Oswit Canyon, Inc., the nonprofit organization Jane founded to do this work.

WeActivism is the type of action

Which occurs like a chemical reaction

When one of us comes to the conclusion

That it takes all of us to find the solution

The process starts inside the ME

Who identifies the problems that be

And educates us all to see

The power of harnessing the WE