In 2009, a local author asked me if I would be interested in making photos for a children’s book about the disappearance of honey bees. I was freelancing for two daily newspapers at the time, so I jumped at the opportunity to work on a long-term project. Two weeks later, we were driving to the mid-Atlantic to meet with beekeepers and researchers. A year later, The Hive Detectives was published.
We have created a total of six children’s books about the natural world, three for middle-grade audiences and three picture books. Our collaboration has taken us on many adventures – from searching for butterflies in the mountains of Mexico and Costa Rica to studying moths in our own backyards. These books, primarily about winged creatures and the people who love them, have won several awards.
My appreciation for the natural world has grown immensely during these years. I am deeply concerned about the effects of climate change on these creatures, especially our pollinators. To have the healthiest planet, we must care for all living beings and their habitats.