Ava is more than just a beautifully illustrated book . . .



The American Avocet
is one of millions of
birds that utilize 
Cheyenne Bottoms,
the largest wetland
complex in the interior
of the United States,
during annual migrations
in the spring and fall.




This is an important book that will be loved by readers of all ages.
 
  • Science lessons in a readable, enjoyable format.
  • An introduction to the importance of wetlands conservation.
  • A study of the American Avocet, its patterns and behaviors.
In only 23 years, between 1955 and 1978, 40% of the wetlands in Kansas disappeared.
_______
 
Wetlands around the world are vanishing at a rate three times that of forests.
_______
Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, as varied and productive as rain forests and coral reefs.
_______
A portion of the proceeds for every copy sold will go to
Kansas Wetlands Education Center.
Buy Now
Cheyenne Bottoms is one of the most important shorebird migration points in the Western Hemisphere and serves as a key link in a chain of wetlands throughout the Central Flyways. Historically, as many as 500,000 shorebirds used this marsh during years in which habitat conditions were favorable. Threats to shorebirds have become more diverse and widespread in recent decades and pose serious conservation challenges. Unregulated hunting, predators, human disturbance, habitat loss, and climate change threaten these birds’ survival.
—Robert Penner, Avian Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy
 
“I learned something from this book! How have I lived in Kansas my whole life and not realized that shorebirds come here!
 
“I could have used this in my 7th grade ELL geography class. Along with all the science vocabulary, I could have used it to teach migration and the human impact on the environment.”
 -Ashley Nguyen, Middle School and High School ESL Teacher
_______
“Thanks for sharing this wonderful book! Quite informative and beautiful!”
-Tammi Garriott, Kindergarten Teacher, Sacred Heart Catholic School
_______
“This looks like a book for all ages. Just ‘picture book’ had me thinking for children, but that is not the case. I love the illustrations.”
 -Hazel Hart, Editor
_______
“I think this is a great idea for a book! There is a need for nonfiction books that kids can understand. This looks like it would be a good fit for mid to upper elementary students.”
 -Sherry Askew, Kansas Public School Teacher
Buy Today

About the Author

author imageKansas Wetlands Education Center Program Specialist Mandy Kern is passionate about helping others appreciate the natural resources around them. She enjoys making opportunities for children to connect with the outdoors, away from electronics and screens. Her first visit to Cheyenne Bottoms was in seventh-grade science class as a reward for learning to identify over 100 bird species. Prior to working at the center, she was a high school agriculture education and science instructor, where including science literacy was always a priority. Mandy lives on a market farm, where she cultivates her veggie empire with her husband Joseph and three children, Jonas, Russell, and Maggie. They are the 6th generation to live on this homestead on the Santa Fe Trail. They love to go on adventures and especially love to road trip to national parks. Her favorite bird is the Black-necked Stilt.

About the Illustrator

Onalee Nicklin is best known for her fantasy or “stoillustrator photorybook” pencil drawings, often depicting children as mermaids, elves, or characters in a story. She works mostly with graphite pencils, colored pencils, and sometimes does a little mixed media. “I hope my work inspires people to use their imagination, to dream, to read,” she says. She credits most of the development of her skill to the lessons in “Foundations of Art” from the School of Illustrative Arts, instructor Howard David Johnson. Onalee lives in a small cottage on a farm near Emporia with her husband, a tuxedo cat, and numerous species of wildlife. Having always loved fantasy, fairytales, and storybooks—and inspired by the illustrations of Adrienne Segur—she now crafts her own whimsical and detailed illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-7362232-3-9 (hardcover)
 

JNF051100    JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Environmental Science & Ecosystems
NAT043000   NATURE / Animals / Birds
SCI070060      SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Ethology (Animal Behavior)
 

 

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center is dedicated to educating the public about wetland communities, their importance, and the need for conservation and restoration, with emphasis on Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. KWEC accomplishes this through interactive exhibits and interpretation, education programs, outreach, and fostering partnerships with cooperating stakeholders. The KWEC, 592 NE K-156 Highway, is at the southeast side of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, northeast of Great Bend, Kansas.
Visit https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu for more information. 

Specializing in Midwest Regional Books Since 2014

Meadowlark Press is an independent publisher, born of a desire to produce high-quality books for print and electronic delivery. Our goal is to create a network and system of support for today’s independent authors. Our service is to ensure that the stories we love and believe in are presented to readers in a manner that enhances an author’s work.
Visit https://www.meadowlark-books.com for more information.