We invite you to join us in remembering John Denver on the 20th anniversary of his tragic death on October, 12, 1997. His songs were infused with a love of nature, and one of his final projects was a PBS program aptly called A Voice for Nature. John said, “Nature has always been my best friend. My songs are full of images from nature.”
John Denver supported many environmental and humanitarian causes, including preserving wilderness in Alaska, promoting solar energy, rehabilitating raptors, and supporting scientific exploration of the ocean and also outer space. He performed countless concerts in support of environmental organizations, and used his fame to awaken awareness about the importance of the environment for “our own heritage, our spirit, and our soul.” Despite many setbacks, John Denver was a true visionary, recognizing the possibilities for the future.
“There are so many things that need to be done that sometimes it seems overwhelming. I try to remind everyone that no one person has to do it all, but if each one of us follows our heart and our own inclinations, we will find the small things that we can do. Together we will come up with enough to create a sustainable future and a healthy environment.”
Dawn Publications is honored to have published five of John Denver’s songs children’s picture books: Sunshine on My Shoulders, Take Me Home Country Roads, Grandma’s Feather Bed, and Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin’s Lullaby, all illustrated by Christopher Canyon, and For Baby, For Bobby, illustrated by Janeen Mason.