Books, Belonging, and Conservation — Lessons from South Africa with Ann Dye

In Episode 167 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Ann Dye, Vice President of Sales Operations at HarperCollins, for a powerful conversation about books, belonging, and conservation.

Ann shares her journey into publishing, how books help children (and adults) slow down in a noisy, screen-filled world, and why matching the right book to the right reader still matters. Diane and Ann also reflect on their life-changing trip to South Africa with the Children’s Book Creators for Conservation, including volunteering at a rhino orphanage, learning from local conservation leaders, and witnessing the power of community-driven change.

This episode explores how reading, empathy, creativity, and service connect us—to each other, to nature, and to hope.

Topics include:

children’s books • literacy • publishing • conservation • empathy • community • play-based learning • hope

📚 Key Takeaways

• Why matching the right book to the right reader can change everything
• How books offer a powerful counterbalance to screens and constant noise
• What conservation really looks like on the ground — and why community matters
• How creativity, play, and service build connection across cultures
• Finding hope through everyday acts of care, kindness, and commitment

🕒 Chapter Titles & Timestamps

Meet Anne Dye: A Life in Publishing

01:01 – Anne’s path into children’s publishing and sales operations

Matching Books to Readers

04:04 – Helping kids (and adults) fall in love with reading

Books vs. the Noise of Modern Life

06:06 – Why reading still matters in a screen-saturated world

Holiday Books & Finding “Just Right” Stories

09:09 – Gift ideas, animals, and beloved children’s books

South Africa: Why This Trip Mattered

12:11 – What drew Anne to conservation work abroad

Volunteering at the Rhino Orphanage

18:17 – Trust, vulnerability, and unforgettable moments with rhinos

Dehorning, Ethics, and Human Responsibility

22:21 – Conservation choices and protecting endangered animals

The Power of Community & the Green Mambas

26:25 – Local leadership, women in conservation, and sustainable change

Art, Play, and Creative Connection

31:30 – What illustrators, murals, and playfulness teach us

Being Present in Extraordinary Moments

34:33 – Wildlife encounters, awe, and putting the camera down

Biodiversity, Humility, and Lifelong Learning

37:36 – Rethinking what we know about the natural world

What Brings Hope

40:39 – Acts of service, everyday goodness, and closing reflections