A 99-year-old World War II veteran proved that it’s never to late to do what you love after embarking on a career as a children’s book author. Now, with two titles under his belt, the nonagenarian is earning the admiration of a new generation of young readers.
“Reading is a foundation for all other learning,” Sam Baker, 99, told Fox News of the inspiration behind starting a new vocation at nearly a hundred years old.
Sam Baker first discovered his love of reading in the ninth grade, but it wasn't until he turned 95 that he realized how much he enjoyed writing books, too.
Baker, now 99, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. He served in the Marines from 1942 to 1947, and later embarked on a career with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When his children were young, he read to them every day, and would make up his own stories about a worm named Herman. When Baker decided to start writing four years ago, his son encouraged him to turn his Herman tales into a book.
What can a World War II vet with over 90 years of life experience and a mischievous mouse teach us? A whole lot it turns out! Children's book author Sam Baker tells us about his mission to make the world a happier place. THE LIST is a daily TV show that covers the hottest trends and topics in life hacks, pop culture, deals and gadgets to make your life a little easier. Tune in Monday-Friday to watch THE LIST.
In his book, Baker conveys heartfelt and positive lessons through a tale of an unlikely friendship between a child and a mouse. That friendship brings unexpected joy to them both. Baker explains, “My aim is to get children to learn to read. Reading is the foundation to all other learning. Children who can read will succeed.”
Baker was recently featured in a moving ad for the design software Canva, in which he retells his life story to his grandchildren, using designs from the software and pictures from his life. Baker used the app to make materials to crowdfund his most recent book, “Oscar the Mouse,” released in September 2020 and inspired by a rat that Baker kept as a pet growing up in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Baker dedicated the book to his children, and to those working at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does one reinvent themselves? What hurdles have to be overcome to take life in a new direction? How do you overcome those challenges? How do you ignore the naysayers? How do you push through the paralyzing fear?
In this series called “Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life “ we are interviewing successful people who reinvented themselves in a second chapter in life, to share their story and help empower others.
As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sam Baker.
Museum of the American Military Family (MAMF) Director talks with 99 year-old Sam Baker, WWII veteran, who started his 5th career as a children's book author at age 95. He is joined by his daughter Sally who recalls her childhood living at Cape Canaveral and how the stories her dad told her when she was little developed into two (and soon to be three) published children's books today.
12 News: 99-year-old Scottsdale veteran shows it's never too late to follow your dreams
Writing has been a lifelong dream inspired by his late wife, Janet. They were married for more than 58 years, according to writer Sam Baker.
At 99 years old, Sam Baker has lived an extraordinary life. After serving in the Marine Corps during WWII and achieving a hugely successful professional career, Sam became a children’s book author at age 95. His stories creatively feature the important lessons he’s learned over his nine-plus decades on Earth.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sam spent much of the pandemic separated from his family. Sam features in Canva’s ‘With love’ Holiday campaign, reflecting on his life experiences, values, and desire to pass along his words of wisdom in his new children’s book Oscar The Mouse.
Sam Baker | Force For Good
Sam Baker is a 99-year-old World War II veteran who always dreamed of becoming a children’s book author. With help from his friend, Linda Larson-Schlitz, and a successful Canva-led crowdfunding campaign, that dream came true. Sam recently published his book, Oscar The Mouse, proving age is no barrier to achieving your lifelong goals.
Watch their beautiful story of friendship and how Canva helped bring Sam’s dream to life below.
AARP calls them “age disruptors.” People over the age 50 who are finding ways to reinvent themselves. For some, that reason is financial. For others, it’s purpose. Meet some of Arizona’s very own age disruptors — and find out what keeps them going.
Sam Baker, a 98-year-old Scottsdale resident and WWII veteran, recently published his second children’s book while in quarantine, “Oscar The Mouse.” A friend gave him the pet rat when he was about 10 and it became the inspiration of a children’s book that he wrote nearly 90 years later.
Sam Baker has packed more life into his nine decades on Earth than most folks could into nine lifetimes. The Mississippi native served in the Marine Corps in World War II, became an ensign in U.S. National Geodetic Survey, flew over the North Pole, worked at Cape Canaveral in the nascent days of the space program, consulted on nuclear projects, sold GPS systems and, after retiring to Scottsdale, began writing children’s books.
Scottsdale resident Sam Baker remembers people coming to his house during the Great Depression asking for help. His mother never turned down anyone. As Baker begins what he describes as his "fifth career" as a children's author, he hopes to share that feeling about love with a new, young audience.
The List: Author Sam Baker Shares 3 Tips to Reinvent Yourself
Bucket lists usually contain stuff like sky diving or bungee jumping. But one man named Sam Baker just crossed off something more unique from his list: he wrote a book called The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm. Mr. Baker was 95 when he started his fifth career as an author of a children's book, and now he's giving us the steps to how we can all reinvent ourselves.
There are very few things anymore that get me excited to actually write a posting, but Sam Baker and his amazing children’s book: Oscar The Mouse, did just that. Being a blogger, I let you see what I want you to see. What I find beautiful. What I find amazing. I usually don’t talk about myself in too much detail but being a military history major, I had to share what this amazing man is doing.
KAZT: Reinventing Yourself at 96
A Scottsdale man is proving you are never too old to impact the next generation. At the age of 95, Sam Baker penned his first children's book, but his love for the written word started when he was just a boy growing up in Clarksdale, Mississippi during the Great Depression.
An unexpected friendship leads to thrilling exploits for a little girl and a tomato worm in The Silly Adventures of Petunia & Herman the Worm. The book evolved from a bedtime story author Sam Baker made up for his now-adult children when they were young. Children’s book authorship is Scottsdale nonagenarian Baker’s fifth career.
Scottsdale Author Publishes “The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm”
Captain (Leonard) Samuel Baker, Eagle Scout, and geodetic survey leader published his first children's book at 95 years young; The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm. The book wiggled its way to an Amazon #1 best seller in the reptile and amphibian’s children's category within hours and is still trending as a #1 best-selling children's book on Amazon 7 days in a row.