Roberta Raymond, a sociologist, author and illustrator will exhibit 21 original watercolors that became the illustrations for her new children’s book Three Sea Tales (published by Mira Digital Publishing,2014). The watercolors are based on photos she took while snorkeling in Jamaica, Bonaire and the Cayman Islands. Each part of the book features a photo of the actual creature and a description of her encounters in addition to the watercolors and the text. The Ocean Conservancy added a page to the book, asking readers to save our oceans before its creatures become extinct.

The book includes three separate but related stories of Gus the Flying Gurnard, Frenchy the Cleaner Fish, and Sylvie the Reef Squid that appeal to children of all ages. Although the stories are fanciful, the details of the fish and the coral are scientifically accurate. SPLASH (Summer 2015), a publication of the Ocean Conservancy, recommends “Three Sea Tales” as the only children’s book to “ include the ocean” this summer, and goes on to say that it contains  “beautiful watercolors of underwater life and three sea creatures whose stories demonstrate how courage, curiosity and hard work pay off.” Raymond is donating about half of the first printing to organizations for children who are not able to afford to buy books.

Raymond’s first book for children, Amy and the Amaryllis, was positively reviewed in The National Gardener (Spring 2015). She will present a gallery talk on Sunday, August 23 at noon. Three Sea Tales is for sale in the UUFDC entry hall for $20.00.

The UU Gallery is open from 1 to 3 Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 11 am – 12:30 pm Sunday; and by appointment at 854-7559.