Let’s give children positive ideas about aging
so they can
flourish throughout
their lives.
SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM
SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM • SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM • SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM
Did you know
that children as young as four begin to form ideas and feelings about aging?
And So We Grow (ASWG) is a curated collection of storybooks designed to help children as young as four begin to develop positive views of aging by exploring older characters who portray aging in a realistic and positive light.
Celebrating the older characters provides children with healthy attitudes about the natural process of aging and puts them on a path to envision themselves as a Vital and Involved Person (VIP).
WHY STORYBOOKS HELP SHAPE POSITIVE BELIEFS ABOUT AGING
Discover the ASWG Book Collection
The stories children encounter have the power to shape how they understand the world and influence the future selves they will grow into.
The ASWG Collection features storybooks with older characters who defy common stereotypes by showing that aging is a lifelong journey of growth. Through each story, children see older characters as creative, capable, and full of knowledge that can help solve problems and strengthen intergenerational connections.
-
![Cover of the book titled 'Berry Song' by Michaela Goade, featuring illustrations of children among berry bushes with red and orange berries and green leaves, and two silver medals on the right side.]()
Berry Song
-
![Book cover illustration of Fauja Singh running a marathon, wearing a yellow turban and a beige shirt, with a bib number 'FAUJA 100'. The background features a blue sky, and a red finish line ribbon with the word 'FINISH'. The title 'Fauja Singh Keeps Going' is in large blue letters, with the subtitle about the true story of the oldest marathon runner. The authors and illustrator are listed, with a forward by Fauja Singh.]()
Fauja Signh Keeps Going
-
![Book cover titled "Giant Island" by Jane Yolen and Doug Keith, featuring a painted scene of a giant's face submerged in water with a tree on top of the island in the background, mountains, and a cloudy sky.]()
Giant Island
-
![Cover of a children's book titled "Harry and Walter" by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Qin Leng, featuring a playful scene with a tree, a tree branch with animals, and a boy and a man jumping and playing among fallen leaves in an autumn setting.]()
Harry and Walter
-
![Book cover titled "Henri's Scissors" by Jeanette Winter, featuring an illustration of man with glasses and a beard sitting in a chair with a purple cushion, holding large scissors, a black cat sitting on a table, and a pink bird standing nearby, with colorful abstract shapes around.]()
Henri´s Scissors
-
![Children's book cover titled 'How Old Is Mr. Tortoise?' featuring cartoon illustrations of a turtle, a mole with birthday candles, and a fish, with pink and blue polka dot cake.]()
How Old Is Mr. Tortoise?
-
![cover for the book miss rumphius]()
Miss Rumphius
-
![cover for the book old rock is not boring]()
Old Rock (is not boring)
-
![illustrated cover for the book old to joy]()
Old to Joy
-
![cover artwork for the book on the trapline]()
On the Trapline
-
![cover for the book the branch]()
The Branch
-
![cover for the book the keeper of wild words]()
The Keeper of Wild Words
-
![cover for the book the walk]()
The Walk
If we teach children that growing old is a natural part of life, and raise them to appreciate and value the contributions of older people to their world, ageist stereotypes and fears of growing old will become obsolete.
— Dr. Robert Butler
ASWG IN ACTION
Where age-friendly
stories meet
social impact
What began as a local initiative has been embraced by teachers, librarians, parents, grandparents, booksellers, Rotary Clubs, service providers, and organizations across Minnesota—including the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education, and Minnesota Gerontological Society.
With the support of Duluth Aging Support and Age-Friendly Minnesota, we’re building national collaborations rooted in one powerful belief: when children develop positive beliefs about aging, we create a more connected, compassionate, and age-inclusive future for everyone.
SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM • SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM • SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM
SOWING SEEDS TO END AGEISM
LET'S GROW TOGETHER
Get your FREE ASWG Reader’s Guide to start cultivating positive age beliefs in your child today
Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, parent, grandparent, bookseller, faith leader, clinician, or an active member of your community, this FREE guide offers simple ways to spark meaningful conversations about aging and build more inclusive and positive views of growing older.
RESOURCES AT A GLANCE
Discover more about ageism and the healthy benefits of positive aging beliefs
Children observe us with the scrutiny of a scientist and the intuition of an artist. When we become more aware of our attitudes toward aging, we’re better able to model positive beliefs about aging that help children approach every stage and age of life with curiosity, compassion, and confidence.
BEHIND THE WORK
Meet Marsha Weiner
Marsha brings decades of experience as an educator, program creator, and advocate for lifelong learning for children. With a background in the arts, food culture, and gerontology, she has collaborated with pioneers in the fields of creativity and aging, including Gene Cohen, MD, Andrea Sherman, PhD, and Susan Perlstein.
These collective experiences led Marsha to create And So We Grow…Sowing Seeds to End Ageism, a new way to introduce younger children to older characters who embody positive aging beliefs and live out the claim that every stage of life has opportunities for meaningful fulfillment.
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to cultivate meaningful change together?
If you have questions, feedback, or interested in partnering on future presentations, workshops, or community events to help end ageism, we’d love to hear from you!
St. Paul, MN
marsha@andsowegrow.org
612-405-2776