Local author Jennifer Keats Curtis shows her own Diamondback Terrapin to students at Piney Orchard Elementary last week. Photos by Laura Tayman.

Local Author Shares Love of Bay with Students

Lucky students of Piney Orchard Elementary got some important lessons last week, both in scientific facts and in the art of sharing those facts through writing, courtesy of Jennifer Keats Curtis, a local author who is devoted to educating fellow Marylanders about the delicate condition of the Chesapeake Bay.

Ms. Curtis, an Arnold resident, is the author of three children’s books that use native Maryland animals as subjects. Her fourth book is planned to be out in the fall, and she is just wrapping up her fifth project.

“I heard her make a presentation last year and thought she would be wonderful to bring here,” explained the school’s Reading Resource Teacher Ena-Laurie Kearns. “She has a great passion for the Bay and its animals and uses authentic experiences to share that information in a style that students enjoy.”

“I basically just love all things Maryland,” said Ms. Curtis, who is also Editor-at-Large of Maryland Life, a magazine that celebrates life and living across the entire state. “I want kids to understand that there are things they can help with to make this a better place. With the stories and my presentation, they come out really getting it – knowing things they can do to help animals and the environment.”

The students of intermediate grades heard Ms. Curtis read and discuss her book titled “Turtles in My Sandbox.” The story is based on a popular terrapin headstarting program, of which POES fourth graders have participated. The program has experts gather diamondback terrapin eggs each summer, hatch them, then provide a handful of students with an extraordinary experience that connects them directly with this unique animal.

Younger students were treated to her new book Osprey Adventure featuring a tale of how a boy and his biologist father save an osprey from certain death after it becomes accidentally entangled in fishing line. Ms. Curtis explained that the book was inspired by the work of real-life biologist, Peter McGowan of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“This story shows how important it is for all of us to pick up trash and put away fishing gear so that the birds aren’t harmed,” she told the students. Ms. Curtis also brought along a stuffed Osprey as well as her own Diamondback Terrapin to emphasize the importance of supporting local Bay life.

Ms. Curtis will be in the area once again as she makes a presentation to Nantucket Elementary next month. For more information on her books, her efforts, or her author visits, go to www.terrapinbook.com and www.ospreybook.com.

POES Reading Resource Teacher Ena-Laurie Kearns introduces Ms. Curtis to young students.	Ms. Curtis shows students a bag of trash that a biologist found in an osprey nest in Maryland.
Ms. Curtis brought along a stuffed osprey to show students what one looks like, as well as how trash can hurt the birds.	Ms. Curtis shows students a copy of her latest book.