An interview with Alyssa Nicole, author of “Protector of the Ocean”

This month we have interviewed Alyssa Nicole, an elementary school teacher who has just completed writing her first book, “Protector of the Ocean.” The book, which has been illustrated by Melissa Pham, was just released this week and is available on Amazon.com (Link)

Alyssa Nicole, author of “Protector of the Ocean”

Alyssa, tell us, what is the book about?

The book takes place in Hawaii, and the story follows a girl named Kai who loves to spend time by the ocean. As a young child, she meets a sweet turtle friend named Bella, and they play together in a beautiful, clean ocean. As Kai gets older, she witnesses the effects of pollution on the habitat of her friend and comes back to help protect and preserve the ocean for her and all the other creatures.

The story shares important messages about friendship, protecting the environment, helping others, and empowering children to follow their dreams and make a difference.

The book is written for preschool and elementary school age children, but the powerful messages of protecting our planet and making a difference will resonate with any age.

What inspired you to write your book?

I teach 2nd grade, and I wanted to write a story that will empower children to make a positive impact and encourage them to help preserve our environment. I created a female lead character who pursues a STEM career to be a great role model for girls. Her name, Kai, means “ocean” in Hawaiian. Her turtle friend, Bella, is named after my beloved dog who passed last summer.

My favorite place to be is the ocean, and I have always been fascinated by marine life. I am passionate about the environment and know that each one of us can make a small difference. When I visit beaches, it makes me sad to see garbage on the shoreline and in the water, and I will usually bring a bag and pick up litter when I snorkel or walk on the beach.

My hope is that this book helps raise awareness of the effects of pollution on our environment and inspires children (and adults!) to take actions to protect our world.

For more information about Alyssa and her new book, please visit www.alyssanicolebooks.com and follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/alyssanicolebooks