FOR ALL THE ANIMALS

My book, For All The Animals, was written with all living creatures in mind. It's the first in a series of children's books devoted to inspiring children to get outdoors and explore the wonder of nature. It's illustrated with my photography, and my photography-inspired artwork of animals, birds, and insects. The book's layout has a scrapbook feel where each page tells a tiny story of a moment in time about my connection with my adorable subjects, and shares personal tidbits combined with fun facts. It's intended to be an interactive book between adults and children. I want the adults in children's lives to nourish their wonder and encourage them to love learning throughout their lives. Adults will likely discover something they didn't know about an animal while reading this with their children. 

If I had to pick two quotes that greatly inspired me as I wrote this book, the first would be by Rachel Carson. 

“If I had influence with the good fairy, who is supposed to preside over the christening
of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder
so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the
boredom and disenchantment of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things
artificial, and the alienation from the sources of our strength.”
~ Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

The second quote would be by Bradley Miller:

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." 

I believe the more hands-on and involved children are in the natural world, the more chance there is to understand how everything is interconnected. I hope that introducing the idea of all of us being linked in our world will help children grow up understanding how this impacts their own lives, while also weaving it into industry so the environment, humans and animals can thrive individually, as well as collectively. ​​