Pablo Penguin, Apprentice to Pirates (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781986230933)

Growing up, nothing made me happier than reading a fun book with great drawings. I thought any book with illustrations was always superior to those without. I'd spend days trying to copy my favorite characters with a #2 pencil, while also testing my mettle by drawing "Winky" or the "Pirate" from the back page ads on comic books. It didn't take me long to learn that when a good story was paired with wonderful illustrations, the book seemed to take on a magical quality. Early on in my career as an Art Director working on children's titles, I learned that the craft of creating a wonderful book required all of the pieces coming together harmoniously. I especially loved working with talented authors and illustrators to bring their creations to life. My passion for drawing was always a part of my life, I have since learned to become a better writer. I hope that I've managed to marry these two skills well enough, to now create my first children's book aimed at young readers, Pablo Penguin, Apprentice to Pirates. This story centers on Pablo, a sweet young penguin on a quest to find his way back home. My own stint in the U.S. Navy, as a young man, placed me sailing the Pacific Ocean aboard an amphibious ship, which may be partly to blame for this book (though I never spotted a penguin in the wild). The idea however came more directly from a conversation with my son about a musical he was reading for college called Pirates of Penzance. I've attempted to help young readers learn a bit about life at sea and possibly even pick up a few "pirate" words along the way, while also getting a little background on penguins to make their own journey more fulfilling. I really hope you like Pablo Penguin, Apprentice to Pirates, as much as I enjoyed writing and illustrating it.