Local author and illustrator connect children to the natural environment through nature series – The Coastland Times

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Adrienne Palma, left, and Dawn Van Ness, right, work together to raise awareness of the local environment and the animals that live in it through a series of children’s books. Gordon Van Ness photo

Bella the Black Bear is the latest release from Adrienne Palma, which hit shelves on May 1. Thanks to Adrienne Palma

Local artist Dawn Van Ness spends time with each of the images Adrienne Palma uses in her books to ensure she captures the true essence of each animal whose story unfolds. Thanks to Adrienne Palma

Local author Adrienne Palma has connected children to the natural world that surrounds them through her educational and enriching wildlife book series. Her latest release, Bella the black bearhits shelves on May 1. Each book is told from the perspective of an animal found on North Carolina’s east coast, preserves and swamps.

As an educator, Palma prioritizes raising awareness for local ecosystems and helping children develop a love of reading. Her Under the sea And Wild animals book series have begun to instill a deep appreciation for the natural world in everyone who picks them up from the shelves.

Palma had worked in the education system for 25 years in both New Jersey and North Carolina. She has always loved the outdoors and enjoyed teaching her students about the natural wonders that lie beyond the walls of the classroom. By visiting national parks, aquariums, national refuges and swimming in open water, this children’s author decided to learn more about the animals that live just outside her backyard.

“I really want my children’s books to be entertaining, educational and factual,” Palma said in an interview with The Coastal Times. “My goal is always for children to develop a love of reading… and to expand their knowledge as they grow in awareness, which will hopefully continue throughout their lives.”

The Under the sea series began with research into hawksbill turtles. Palma spoke to volunteers from the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (NEST) to gather information and verify details about the species. She had been interested in these turtles since she moved to the Outer Banks because loggerheads are known to nest right on the beaches. She relied on the experts to guide her through the animals’ daily lives, accurately illustrating how they live, what they eat, where they breed and who their natural enemies are.

Lola the Loggerhead was the first book in Palma’s Under the sea series, followed by Dawson the dolphin, Crystal the crab, Oliver the otter And Shalim the shark. Her network of experts has expanded with each book to date. From staff at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, to guides with local ghost crab tours, to program managers at the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and staff at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida, this author has enlisted the help of several specialists in every field. The upcoming issue of Bella the black bear marks the second book in her Wild animals series, next Willie the Red Wolf.

“It was a really fun adventure,” Palma said of researching and writing her children’s books. Readers will find a list of fun facts about the animal in question at the back of each publication. The pages are filled with colorful illustrations depicting the animals in their natural habitat.

Working with Palma to bring each story to life, Dawn Van Ness is the artist behind the pages. Once the author shares inspiring photos of each animal and a mock-up of the book, Van Ness gets to work. Her favorite medium is acrylic on multimedia paper. “It’s great because each book challenges me to learn new skills, like how to paint fur or how to get reflective light in the eyes,” the artist explained. “This allows me to spend more time with the animals and learn more about them through the photos Adrienne uses.”

Involving students in the writing process is something Palma has explored in a unique way. A third grade class had been working on the research while she was doing it Oliver the Otter. By doing their own research and developing illustrations for the book, the author was able to include their findings and artwork in her publication. “It’s fun to see how she interacts with students… it involves the children much more in the nature in their environment,” says Van Ness.

Palma and Van Ness hope that their love of nature will shine through in each work and that those who read the books in this series will develop an appreciation for local wildlife. Copies of all seven books can be found at local Outer Banks bookstores, including Downtown Books and Buxton Village Books, as well as the USFWS Gateway Visitor Center and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Books are available in bookstores from Vermont to Key West, Florida and are expanding to aquariums and zoos across the country.

Palma will be at Dare Day in Manteo on June 1 to sign copies of all her books. She will be set up in the Downtown Books tent. For more information, visit adriennepalma.com.

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