H.O. Brittingham students illustrate children’s book

When retired H.O. Brittingham Elementary educator Cathy Miller needed illustrations for her upcoming children’s book, she turned to the most appropriate artists she could find: students at her former school.

Since retiring two years ago, Miller has been able to finally complete the book she started 15 years ago after purchasing a dolphin statue through a fundraising auction in 2003.

The Dolphin Around Town project of the Rehoboth Art League and Rehoboth Beach Main Street centered on a number of 6-foot dolphins created by sculptor Edmund Silver and personalized by local artists as a fundraiser culminating in the Dolphin Farewell Party and Auction. 

Miller successfully bid on a mermaid-themed dolphin painted by the late artist Julie Molyneux, who suggested to Miller at the time that the dolphin would make a great idea for a children’s book.

After reaching out to several artist friends who were unable to commit the time for illustrating the book, Miller turned to former coworker and H.O.B. art teacher Cherylyn Minto to inquire about student artists.

With more than 500 students in the school, Minto said selecting artists was difficult. Ultimately, students were chosen on the basis of their outstanding artwork, behavior and enthusiasm.

Minto called the experience exciting, and said she had never been part of illustrating a book before. Students said they had fun creating pictures for the book and working together with their friends. Plans call for H.O.B. to ship copies of the book to its Leader In Me partner school, Ormiston Primary, in Scotland. 

Students worked about a half-hour a week throughout the school year and attended an illustrators camp at H.O.B. in June to complete the project.

“The book wouldn’t exist without them,” Miller said.

Students were given the words to a page and the freedom to create their own pictures corresponding to each scene in the book “Under a Mermaid Moon.”

The story is a legend of sorts set during the summer in Rehoboth Beach, Miller said. Ocean mermaids who see children playing in the water and building sandcastles want to take their own turns riding surfboards, but they can’t be seen by people.

So, they enlist help from Finn the dolphin, who helps devise a plan to let the mermaids play.

The greatest thing about the student artists, Miller said, is that they have been so insightful and diligent in creating artwork that truly reflects the words on the page.

Miller said next steps entail scanning all of the pages, and working with a formatter and editor to complete the 32-page book. A publisher has already been chosen, said Miller, who anticipates the book to be available in local bookstores in early fall.

Naturally, she said, the place to launch the book will be H.O.B.

“It’s been a dream,” she said.