Scott Stoll logo world traveler. A bicycle wheel and the globe symbolizes Scott's journey around the world on a bicycle.

Falling Uphill for Kids

Stories about the making of our book, Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life and the Spanish edition, “Cayendo Hacia Arriba: El Secreto del Vida.” Part of the Make-A-Book ProjectSynopsis: This is the true story about a man who bicycles around the world questing for the secret of life. His journey is full of many wonders, but he eventually returns home discouraged—only then does he discover the secret in the last place left to look.

Kenyan school children jump for joy when they got their Falling Uphill books.

Falling Uphill in Kenya

Inspiring dreams Finally, it took two months for my package of books to arrive in Kenya. I marked the package “educational material for children,” and luckily no one stole it as often happens. I love how the photo captures them jumping in the air, just like they are falling uphill. I hope the books encourage

Vamos Chicas Paraguay Peace Corp-12

Vamos Chicas Vamos

The Spanish edition of my “Falling Uphill” kids book “Cayendo Hacia Arriba” is being used by the Peace Corp in Paraguay to teach kids how to read and dream.

How to fall uphill infographic. A bicyclist falls up a mountain until they are standing on the top.

How to fall uphill

The first part of being a good adventurer is knowing where you are, and this worksheet helps you figure that out. It also gives a hint about what to do if you are stuck. Based on Scott’s adventure around the world on a bicycle.

Cayendo Hacia Arriba Paraguay Peace Corp 03

Falling Uphill in Paraguay with the Peace Corps

Scott Stoll is an author from my hometown who served as the U.S. Embassy’s cultural ambassador in Argentina during the 2011-2012 school year. His time in Argentina and collaboration with Argentine schools resulted in a Spanish language version of his book, Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life, about his 4 year journey around the world on his bicycle.

Students from Argentina holding their certificates of achievements and their copy of "Cayendo Hacia Arriba," the book that we created together.

Celebrating the book

Students from Argentina holding their certificates of achievements and their copy of “Cayendo Hacia Arriba” the book that we created together. In my opinion, the celebration of the book is the most important step. It helps the students realize their purpose in life, take a step of action with their passion.

Welcome to Yebrail Matta school

Ambassador to Argentina

A quick summary of my trip as Cultural Ambassador to Argentina with my 5th and favorite video of distributing 2000 books to the kids.

US Embassy Buenos Aires folders

Return to Argentina

I was honored to return to Argentina as the Cultural Ambassador of the US Department of State. Read the overview and see the movies.

Scott presenting hist story of bicycling around the world

Sharing my story in Argentina

As the Honorary Cultural Ambassador to Argentina, here I am sharing my story with an elementary school in Corrientes, Argentina, the same place I got stuck in the mud for 5 days.

Chaco Governor Capitanich Cayendo Hacia Arriba

Spreading the love

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief Mr. Brown presented the governor of Chaco, Argentina with gift copies of the book “Cayendo Hacia Arriba” by Scott Stoll, and illustrated by school students from the provinces of Chaco, Corrientes and Buenos Aires.

The US Embassy of Argentina delivering books to a local school.

Ambassador Martinez visits Fuerte Apache school

Ambassador Vilma Martinez visited a school at “Fuerte Apache” to share an activity with the students and encourage personal and professional development among children who live in vulnerable conditions.

Make-A-Book Project Certificate of Achievement

Certificate of Recognition

I’m very excited. This Thursday the Ambassador to Argentina will be visiting some elementary schools in Buenos Aires to read the new Spanish edition of my children’s book. The kids will be receiving their own copy of the book and the certificate of recognition pictured above.

The new book on the floor of the printer's shop waiting to be bound. Each stack is a set of pages.

The making of the book

Here is my new book on the floor of the print shop waiting to be bound. It’s the Spanish edition of the kid’s book, “Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life.” I needed to hover over the guys at the print shop because it just wasn’t getting done on schedule. Aah! And the books need to be on an airplane to Argentina the next day!

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