Sahara Sunday Spain facts for kids

Sahara Sunday Spain (born November 12, 1991) is an entrepreneur and former child author. She is the CEO of the Gentle Earth Project.

When she was 9 years old, she became America's youngest published author. Her book of poetry, If There Would Be No Light: Poems From My Heart, came out in 2001. A publisher called SanFrancisco Harper Collins bought her book. They paid her a good amount of money for it. The book first printed 15,000 copies. It is a collection of poems Sahara wrote when she was very young.

Early Life and Education

Sahara Sunday Spain was born in San Francisco, California. Her mother, Elisabeth Sunday, is an artist and photographer. Her father, Johnny Spain, was a civil rights activist. Her parents divorced in 1993.

As a child, Sahara traveled a lot with her mother. They visited many countries in Africa, Asia, and Australia. By the time she was in high school, she had lived in over 20 countries.

Sahara went to The Nueva School in Hillsborough. This is a special school for very bright students. She also attended Idyllwild Arts Academy for high school. Later, she earned her degrees from Colgate University.

Her Career as an Author

Sahara wrote her first poem, “Mother’s Milk,” when she was five years old. This poem is in her published book. It talks about the special bond between a mother and child. Her mother first wrote down Sahara's poems and drawings. She then gave them as gifts to friends and family.

SanFrancisco Harper Collins saw her work and decided to publish it. At just 9 years old, Sahara became the youngest author in America to publish a book of her own. Her book has 61 poems. It also includes drawings she made between the ages of 5 and 8. The book received a lot of attention around the world. She appeared on shows like The Early Show and To Tell the Truth. She was also featured in newspapers and magazines. These included The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, and Time for Kids.

In 2021, Sahara started working on what became the Gentle Earth Project in 2024. This project helps to fix damaged natural areas. It also supports communities that need help. The Gentle Earth Project aims to bring balance back to nature. It also helps people and the environment grow stronger together.

Helping Others

In 2001, Sahara founded a non-profit group called The Kah-Monno Group. This group started a school for girls in Mali, Africa. The school worked to help more girls get an education in rural Mali. It also helped to stop harmful practices like forced child marriage. The school ran for 15 years. It had to close in 2014 because of a civil war in the area.

Published Book

• If There Would Be No Light: Poems From My Heart. By Sahara Sunday Spain. HarperOne. 2001

See also

In Spanish: Sahara Sunday Spain para niños