Brenda Z. Guiberson shares animal tales with Audubon students

At a Redmond elementary school named for naturalist and artist John James Audubon, Thursday’s visit from children’s author and illustrator Brenda Z. Guiberson was a special treat.

Thanks to a grant from the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, Guiberson shared a slide show about her close encounters with dolphins, flamingos and polar bears and answered questions about her body of work.

Guiberson has written more than 20 books, mostly non-fiction. She also illustrated several of her books and teaches illustration through University of Washington Extension.

Audubon teacher-librarian Elisabeth Wicks welcomed all grade levels to meet Guiberson. Younger kids asked funny questions such as, “Did you come here in a limo?” and “Have you ever been recognized in a grocery store?” Older students were curious about the processes of writing and illustrating.

“My very favorite way to do research is field research,” Guiberson explained.

Getting close to nature and quietly observing is step one. Photographing animals and studying their movement is next. She also checks facts with university professors.

Identifying animals’ predators or challenges often sparks ideas, she continued.

For example, flamingos are vulnerable in hurricanes and baby polar bears have to learn how to use their claws to stabilize themselves on the ice.

When asked which of her books was her favorite, Guiberson said she especially liked “Cactus Hotel,” which has been translated into many languages worldwide. The idea for that one came from a visit to a desert. She saw a bird fly into a hole in a cactus and wondered why an animal would choose to live inside a prickly tree.

Guiberson closed with sage advice for the Audubon students: “Read all kinds of books, many different types. Observe closely, listen closely and keep a notebook.”

To learn more about Brenda Guiberson, visit www.brendazguiberson.com.