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Hi! Deb Gonzales here. I’m a children’s author, career educator, and marketing strategist who has spent years crafting resources that connect people with literature in meaningful ways. As the founder of Guides by Deb, I’ve created over 400+ standards-aligned educator guides for some of the finest books in the business. And as the founder of Pin Lit Marketing, I now help book creators harness the power of Pinterest to expand their reach and keep their books discoverable for years to come.

My expertise in education, curriculum development, and book marketing strategy makes me uniquely qualified to help authors, illustrators, and publishers boost book visibility—whether through standards-aligned guides or Pinterest strategy. With an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, I understand the literary world from both the creative and business sides.

If you’re looking for high-quality, affordable, project-specific supplemental materials or a marketing strategy that keeps your books discoverable, let’s talk!

Stop by Deb's Author Website

Stop by Deb's Author Website

A SONG FOR THE COSMOS: BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON AND VOYAGER’S GOLDEN RECORD

A SONG FOR THE COSMOS: BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON AND VOYAGER’S GOLDEN RECORD

Debbie Gonzales
Discussion/Activity, Picture Book

Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.

A SONG FOR THE COSMOS: BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON AND VOYAGER’S GOLDEN RECORD

Written by Jan Lower

Illustrated by Gary Kelley

Published by Creative Editions

ISBN: 978-1-56846-362-9

Synopsis:
Blues guitarist Blind Willie Johnson led a hardscrabble life, but his music transcended earthly bounds. In 1977, NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts launched into the cosmos, each carrying a golden record to represent the sounds and spirit of humanity. Among them was Johnson’s haunting hymn, “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground.” Weaving together the story of a self-taught musician with the visionary work of scientists, writers, and artists who created the golden record, A Song for the Cosmos invites readers to explore how creativity, resilience, and science together give voice to what it means to be human.

Key Teaching Value:
Encourages young learners to see connections between art, science, and history—fostering curiosity, empathy, and wonder about how one person’s song can echo across time and space.

Educator Guide Content Summary:
This cross-disciplinary guide engages students in examining how music, culture, and scientific discovery intersect. Through inquiry-based discussion, creative writing, and art activities, learners reflect on the power of sound and storytelling to communicate across boundaries—on Earth and beyond. Aligned with CCSS and NGSS, lessons invite students to:

  • Explore historical and cultural context surrounding Blind Willie Johnson and the early blues.

  • Investigate the Voyager mission’s purpose, design, and selection of the Golden Record contents.

  • Create “messages to the cosmos” using music, poetry, or visual art.

  • Discuss resilience and representation: whose voices tell the story of humanity?

Hands-on projects encourage reflection on identity, expression, and connection to our shared world—grounding cosmic ideas in meaningful classroom experiences that inspire both heart and mind.

Author's Website
Discussion/Activity Guide
Learn more about Deb
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