Penguins, Bold Goals, and Meaningful Projects

6th grade Gavin, working on his third book about penguins, met last month with his mentor Katy Wozniak and several King Penguins at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Katy is the lead aquarist and penguin keeper.

Gavin started writing about penguins in 3rd grade. His first book, Saving a Galapagos Penguin Family, was published as a children’s book through Lulu. His mother, Jennifer, is the primary illustrator for all of the books.

Gavin’s second book, The Little Blue Penguins of North Sydney Harbour, was written in collaboration with several scientists and park rangers in Australia who work to save the penguins. The collaboration was extraordinary, with mentors and Gavin working through months online in Google Docs refining his book draft and editing illustration ideas.

Gavin has raised several hundred dollars in donations for the Pittsburgh Aviary (beneficiary of the first book) and is getting ready to send off his first check to the Little Swiss Penguin Girls raising funds for new rubbish cans on the Blue Penguin beaches. Proceeds from his newest book will benefit the Pittsburgh Zoo.

“When I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo to meet my mentor for my new book, I didn’t know I would get to meet the King Penguins they had there. My mentor is Katy and she answered every question I had plus told me lots of facts I didn’t know. She showed me how the penguin’s feathers grew and told me about their special second set of eye lids that help them see underwater.” Can you imagine a world without these amazing flightless birds?