OVERVIEW
I developed this book as part of a federally funded initiative to create a living shoreline—a manmade, ecologically sensitive slope designed to encourage growth of living oyster reefs. Sponsored by organizations including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology, the project aimed to educate readers about oysters and their crucial role in the environment through accessible storytelling, refined typography, and captivating scenes.
Because the project budget did not allow for a professional illustrator, I took on the challenge myself. I designed and illustrated each page, drawing on scientific research to enrich the narrative and accurately envision the diversity of Georgia’s coastal marsh biome. This piece merges creative storytelling with ecological accuracy to present a content-rich narrative in a way that’s approachable and engaging for a general audience.
This eBook reimagines the content for a digital experience with interactive elements. The layout invites users to explore the coastal ecosystem through taps and embedded sounds that deepen engagement and bring the story to life.
ABOUT THE STORY
The Living Shoreline, written by Valerie J. Frey (ISBN:978-0-8203-6244-1), invites young readers on a journey through the salt marsh ecosystem—told from the unique perspective of an oyster larva. The book transforms you into a drifting “spat” and follows the your life cycle from microscopic beginnings to reef builder. Along the way, readers discover how these unassuming creatures play a vital role in filtering water, protecting shorelines, and supporting an entire web of coastal life.
