Welcome to the website of naturalist and award-winning children’s author and illustrator Brooke Bessesen
Whether eye to eye with humpback whales or surrounded by free-flying California condors, Brooke is wild about the natural world! She works with the medical team at the Phoenix Zoo, serves as a wildlife rescue volunteer and travels the globe to see species in their own habitats. You can join her animal adventures by reading her blog.
"What a wonderful blog! We enjoyed your photographs & travels! Looking forward to more!"
—Maria Kantzos, teacher
Brooke is also the author of four children's books. Her newest title is a non-fiction leveled reader entitled Invertebrates, available for the classroom through Science A-Z.
Her three popular picture books are designed to kindle creativity and wonder in kids of all ages, and fans of the award-winning book Look Who Lives in the Desert! will delight in the much-anticipated sequel, Look Who Lives in the Ocean!. Both are masterful blends of art and science, combining clever collage illustrations, humorous rhyme, fascinating facts and photographs. Each takes readers on a colorful journey and describes 21 animals in their respective habitat.
And don’t forget Zachary, a playful packrat who never seems to have enough stuff. He loves art and heirlooms, swap meets and museums. Join the fun as he carefully cares for his favorite collections and seeks out new goodies to stash in his cache. Written in wordplay for collectors of all ages, Zachary Z. Packrat and His Amazing Collections is illustrated by nationally syndicated cartoonist, Jenny Campbell. It’s “based on a true story” because it’s about packrat moms, grandpas and best friends—beloved human packrats, who like to collect things and protect treasures of the past. But it also explains how the namesake animals help scientists study habitats dating all the way back to the Ice Age. Nominated for a 2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award.
Here, you will find pages and pages of fun for book junkies and animal lovers. Now young readers have their very own section, for KIDS! with several pages to help them discover their own inner power. And teachers, you have a special place, too, with info on school visits and 90+ pages of FREE standards-based curriculum.
See how Brooke creates her unique fabric illustrations, read some of her other writings, schedule her for a presentation. You may want to browse Brooke’s photos and videos. She travels with a camera and is an award-winning television producer whose credits include producing animal stories for National Geographic Channel. Whatever engages you, enjoy exploring this eco-writer's site. But beware... it may spark a hankering to explore the whole planet.
Brooke is a member of Authors for Earth Day, a national coalition of authors and illustrators that builds environmental awareness through special April school visits. She also donates a portion of her book royalties to wildlife conservation, bringing her full circle back to the animals she loves.
NEW NEWS!
RIGHT NOW Brooke just returned from Costa Rica. She has posting photos & videos to Facebook and on her blog.
Brooke is the author of
a new non-fiction ebook!
Invertebrates is only available through the educational press Science A-Z.
Authors for Earth Day has now donated over $10,000 to conservation organizations!.
Brooke is a new member of Humane Society of the United States' National Animal Disaster Reponse Team (NDART).
SITEings
See photos from Brooke's 2011 A4ED school visit.
Visit OBIS SEAMAP, to see Brooke's whale, dolphin and sea turtle data from her conservation research in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.