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Yorkshire Publishing has announced the release of Piper the Brown Pelican, written by Adrienne Palma with illustrations by Amber Rae Malott.

This third installment in Palma’s popular WILDLIFE series takes young readers on an unforgettable journey along the coast of North Carolina. From her first moments in a carefully constructed nest to her graceful flights above the Atlantic, Piper’s story opens a window into the life of a brown pelican — blending adventure with education.

The idea for Piper the Brown Pelican was born during a conversation between Palma and the owner of Buxton Village Books, Gee Gee Rosell, who suggested featuring a pelican next. With a commitment to local accuracy and insight, Palma reached out to Megan Patel, manager at the Alligator River National Wildlife Visitors Center, who recommended Patricia Moore — a dedicated volunteer at the Pea Island Visitors Center — as a subject matter expert. Moore’s guidance helped Palma ensure both factual integrity and regional authenticity throughout the book.

Set in Nags Head, the book beautifully showcases the landmarks and natural wonders of the Outer Banks, with illustrations that include a lighthouse, a duck blind, Bird Island and even a scene on the dedication page featuring Corolla’s famous wild horses, with Piper flying overhead. Illustrator Amber Rae Malott captures these moments in vivid watercolor, adding a rich visual layer to the narrative.

“As a teacher, I always wanted to expose children to the natural wonders beyond the classroom walls,” Palma said. “These books are an extension of that.”

Palma shared with The Coastland Times that she learned about how brown pelicans plunge-dive from high up, using the force of impact to stun small fish before scooping them up. “They have exceptional eyesight. Their bill (or pouch) can hold more than their belly!”

Piper the Brown Pelican is aimed at children ages 4–8 and, like previous books in the series, Willie the Red Wolf (2023) and Bella the Black Bear (2024), combines entertainment, education and inspiration. It includes interactive elements such as fun facts, a coloring sheet and instructions on how to draw a pelican. Palma hopes these books will spark curiosity and foster respect for local wildlife.

The book is currently available at several Outer Banks retailers including Downtown Books, Duck’s Cottage, Buxton Village Books, Ben Franklin in Nags Head, Beach Books in Corolla, Oceans East Gift Shop at Oregon Inlet, and the gift shop at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.

Upcoming local events include book signings/readings with the author at Dare Day in Manteo on June 7 from 2–4 p.m. and at The Sanderling on June 19.

For more information, to request a reading, or to schedule an interview, visit Palma’s website or contact her directly at adriennepalma22@gmail.com.

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