Prowling the seas, maps and more

I was in my third trimester with The BeaBug when I was contacted by Pamela Turner about doing some illustrations for a children's science book she was writing. The topic was about animals from the website I had been working on, TOPP.org.

She asked me about creating some maps and diagrams for her book, and I thought, sure I can squeeze in one more job before giving birth! Turns out The BeaBug decided to come a month early, so I spent a week in a hospital bed, finishing up some of these maps!

Anyway, everything turned out great, including the beautiful baby girl and the maps for Prowling The Seas: Exploring the Hidden World of Ocean Predators by Pamela S. Turner. It was published in late 2009 October by Walker Books for Young Readers.

Sooty Shearwater birds are extremely long-distance migrants who tend to fly by themselves instead of in a flock. These birds can travel up to 45,981 miles a year!

Leatherback turtles are very old. In the last three decades, 95 percent of the leatherbacks in the eastern Pacific Ocean have disappeared. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists leatherbacks as critically endangered. Their biggest threat: humans, who catch them accidentally in nets and on fishing lines, and who develop their nesting sites.

Bluefin Tuna fish are warm-blooded giants: up to 1,500 pounds (684 kg) and 15 feet (4.58 meters) long. That’s another human longer than the tallest human being. They can hit speeds up to 60 mph and dive to 600 feet.

If you would like to see more of my illustrations, please purchase a copy of the book. It's a really amazing look at the life of these animals ( including a white shark) which will fascinate any young reader.