Melanie Uteg is a writer, educator and naturalist, who lives in the Chicago suburbs with her spouse and two children. Most of her childhood daydreams involved faraway travels, amazing insect discoveries, and conquering the Oregon Trail. Some may say her head was in the clouds, but she would argue she just has a finely-tuned sense of wonder about the world! This world-wondering fueled her love for social studies. She spent 15 years teaching middle school social studies and believes that civics and geography are essential tools for all global citizens. These days her attention has turned to learning and discovering her endless passions: developing chapter books with STEAM and civics themes and volunteering as a gun violence prevention advocate. She believes in making this world a kinder, cleaner, and safer place for all children.
